Former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon has announced his intention to help his far-right views flourish across Europe--prompting thousands of Britons to urge their government to bar him from entering the United Kingdom. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc)
Thousands Sign Petition to #BanBannon from UK Amid Former Trump Aide's Push to Spread Far-Right Extremism in Europe
"This guy is a fascist menace actively trying to subvert our democracy."
In just three days, a petition in the United Kingdom aimed at keeping right-wing operative and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon from entering the country has gathered more than half the signatures it needs in order for the government to issue a formal response.
"Steve Bannon is a far-right political figure who poses a direct risk to the security of the U.K.," reads the petition started by a British citizen named Bruce Johnston. "He should not be allowed to enter the UK to spread messages of hate."
After publishing the notice on British Parliament's website on Friday, Johnston had already gathered more than 6,700 signatures as of Monday afternoon.
After 10,000 people sign on, the government will be required to respond. Parliament will consider the motion for debate once 100,000 Britons pledge their support for the petition.
Bannon "is dangerous and really shouldn't be in the country," Johnston told Bloomberg News. "We need to get to the stage where we protect our democracy."
Bannon, the former executive editor of Breitbart News, was one of President Donald Trump's top strategists and heavily influenced the administration's Muslim ban and the president's demand for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Since leaving the White House, he has announced his intention to help the spread of his far-right, anti-immigration views in Europe, where xenophobic populism has already taken hold in several countries. Last week, he announced the establishment of a foundation known as The Movement to further this goal.
Bannon is a close ally of the U.K. Independence Party (UKIP), which has pushed for Brexit and announced this week that it would support Bannon's populist movement. He also called anti-Muslim English Defense League founder Tommy Robinson the "backbone" of the U.K.
The rapid response to Johnston's anti-Bannon petition comes two weeks after hundreds of thousands of Britons took to the streets to loudly protest Trump's visit to the United Kingdom.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
In just three days, a petition in the United Kingdom aimed at keeping right-wing operative and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon from entering the country has gathered more than half the signatures it needs in order for the government to issue a formal response.
"Steve Bannon is a far-right political figure who poses a direct risk to the security of the U.K.," reads the petition started by a British citizen named Bruce Johnston. "He should not be allowed to enter the UK to spread messages of hate."
After publishing the notice on British Parliament's website on Friday, Johnston had already gathered more than 6,700 signatures as of Monday afternoon.
After 10,000 people sign on, the government will be required to respond. Parliament will consider the motion for debate once 100,000 Britons pledge their support for the petition.
Bannon "is dangerous and really shouldn't be in the country," Johnston told Bloomberg News. "We need to get to the stage where we protect our democracy."
Bannon, the former executive editor of Breitbart News, was one of President Donald Trump's top strategists and heavily influenced the administration's Muslim ban and the president's demand for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Since leaving the White House, he has announced his intention to help the spread of his far-right, anti-immigration views in Europe, where xenophobic populism has already taken hold in several countries. Last week, he announced the establishment of a foundation known as The Movement to further this goal.
Bannon is a close ally of the U.K. Independence Party (UKIP), which has pushed for Brexit and announced this week that it would support Bannon's populist movement. He also called anti-Muslim English Defense League founder Tommy Robinson the "backbone" of the U.K.
The rapid response to Johnston's anti-Bannon petition comes two weeks after hundreds of thousands of Britons took to the streets to loudly protest Trump's visit to the United Kingdom.
In just three days, a petition in the United Kingdom aimed at keeping right-wing operative and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon from entering the country has gathered more than half the signatures it needs in order for the government to issue a formal response.
"Steve Bannon is a far-right political figure who poses a direct risk to the security of the U.K.," reads the petition started by a British citizen named Bruce Johnston. "He should not be allowed to enter the UK to spread messages of hate."
After publishing the notice on British Parliament's website on Friday, Johnston had already gathered more than 6,700 signatures as of Monday afternoon.
After 10,000 people sign on, the government will be required to respond. Parliament will consider the motion for debate once 100,000 Britons pledge their support for the petition.
Bannon "is dangerous and really shouldn't be in the country," Johnston told Bloomberg News. "We need to get to the stage where we protect our democracy."
Bannon, the former executive editor of Breitbart News, was one of President Donald Trump's top strategists and heavily influenced the administration's Muslim ban and the president's demand for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Since leaving the White House, he has announced his intention to help the spread of his far-right, anti-immigration views in Europe, where xenophobic populism has already taken hold in several countries. Last week, he announced the establishment of a foundation known as The Movement to further this goal.
Bannon is a close ally of the U.K. Independence Party (UKIP), which has pushed for Brexit and announced this week that it would support Bannon's populist movement. He also called anti-Muslim English Defense League founder Tommy Robinson the "backbone" of the U.K.
The rapid response to Johnston's anti-Bannon petition comes two weeks after hundreds of thousands of Britons took to the streets to loudly protest Trump's visit to the United Kingdom.