The anti-extremism charity that Jo Cox's widower set up in her memory has been smeared by Nigel Farage. During a radio discussion that touched on the tragic murder of Jo Cox by a right-wing extremist, Farage perversely linked anti-extremist campaigner Brendan Cox and his charity Hope Not Hate to violence and extremism.
Farage's attack mirrors accusations levelled at Farage himself during his political career. The smear appears to be retaliation for Hope Not Hate criticising Farage's divisive and racist politics.
The nonsensical and insensitive attack comes just a few months after Jo Cox's death. Hope Not Hate, which was founded in Jo Cox’s honour, works to combat political militancy, particularly in far-right groups. Extremism is a threat to freedom and wellbeing across the globe, and the importance of working to overcome it has never been more apparent.
Not only were Farage’s comments disrespectful to Cox’s memory and the feelings of her widower, they also risk disrupting the vitally important work that Hope Not Hate do.
Hope Not Hate responded to Farage’s comments by stating that it is “a well-respected, civil society organisation whose more than 200,000 supporters come from all political persuasions." The group also said: “That Nigel Farage made his remarks in the context of a discussion about Jo Cox, who was so brutally murdered earlier this year, makes them all the more poisonous and hateful.”
Please sign this petition to demand that Farage retract his destructive allegations and apologise for the harm he has caused.
Nigel Farage MEP:
Your recent comments connecting Hope Not Hate to violence and extremism were not only in poor taste, they also risk undermining the important work of this anti-extremism charity.
Founded in the memory of Jo Cox, who was killed by a far-right extremist, the charity fights against precisely the kind of things you accuse it of supporting.
The only reasonable way to limit the damage of your smear is a full retraction and public apology.
[Your comments]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
