“DECENT people in Scotland” should take to the streets to
protest Steve Bannon’s “fascist politics” when the former Trump aide comes to Edinburgh next month, the Scottish Greens have said.
Bannon is due to take part in the News Xchange journalism conference, where he’ll be interviewed by the BBC’s Scotland editor Sarah Smith.
His booking at the BBC sponsored event has been controversial.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who was due to speak at the opening reception of the festival, pulled out after learning of Bannon’s appearance.
The SNP leader said she did not want to be involved in “normalising far right, racist views”.
She tweeted: “I believe passionately in free speech but as @ScotGovFM I have to make balanced judgments – and I will not be part of any process that risks legitimising or normalising far right, racist views.
“I regret that the BBC has put me and others in this position.”
Green MSP Patrick Harvie went further, telling The National that Bannon was a “fascist”.
“Given that Greens were at the forefront of the demonstrations against the visit by the vile Donald Trump; it’s only right that the architect of his right wing and racist ideology is given a similar response when he arrives in Scotland,” Harvie said.
He added: “I’m sure a great many decent people in Scotland will once again want to show that Steve Bannon’s brand of fascist politics will never be welcome on our shores.”
Campaigners, Stand Up To Racism, have announced plans to protest Bannon’s event.
They said they were hoping to have the event stopped before it goes ahead, encouraging people to email organisers.
Steve West from SUTR said: “If we can’t get this stopped then we’re preparing now to have the biggest possible protest to say that having Steve Bannon here is unacceptable.”
Organisers took to social media to defend the booking, saying the strategist’s views would be scrutinised.
“News Xchange is an industry conference aimed at journalists and the media,” they tweeted.
“One of its aims is to explore the political and social movements that help shape the modern world and Steve Bannon has undoubtedly played a role in recent years.”
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