“ANGRY SWARM”: MEDIA REACTS TO CELTIC SUPPORTER’S PEACEFUL PROTEST
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Mar 30
- 3 min read
Words can have a massive impact. So, it’s sad that our media in Scotland continue to use them so irresponsibly.
Celtic Supporters United and Peaceful
First of all, my sincere congratulations to all those who come together to organize yesterday’s protest. Also, watching from Japan, I was heartened to see so many turn out despite what looked like absolutely atrocious weather conditions.
The S*n Again Chooses Cheap Slander Over Truth
In stark contrast to what actually happened, The Scottish S*n, decided to run the following headline: FAN FURY: Angry Celtic Supporters Swarm Police Station in Protest Against Cops.
Word choice is very important here.
It tells you a lot about those who wrote and approved the story. “Fury”, “Anger” Swarm”, all words used to imply aggression, intimidation and hatred.
There was none of that on display from what I saw.
We All Know The S*n Has Previous For This
I don’t think I need to remind anyone of the horrific lies and hatred spread by this newspaper and its then editor, the repugnant scumbag that is Kelvin McKenzie, in the wake of 1989’s Hillsborough Stadium disaster.
They have a particular penchant for targeting the oppressed working classes for vilification. Naturally, like the cowards they are, they always go after the easiest target, and for a long time, that has been football fans.
It’s Subtle But Insidious
The S*n aren’t stupid though. Their malevolence towards Celtic Supporters is targeted, specific and probably not legally actionable. The intent of their wording is clear, but it leaves enough legal wiggle room that they can probably get away with it.
I ask all of you though, please don’t fall for it. Whether it’s immigrants, foreigners, or in this case football fans, don’t let these rags tell you who to hate. They are agents of control. They want to keep the public as angry, as ignorant and as focused away from the newspaper’s own misdeeds as possible.
A Tried and Tested Strategy of Division
At the end of the day, the likes of The S*n fear what they can’t control. They knew in 1989 that the good, working-class people of Liverpool were a threat to them.
So, when tragedy struck and an easy opportunity to scapegoat Liverpool fans came up, they seized it.
By adopting the language of vilification in their coverage of Fans Against Criminalization, The S*n is once again deploying the very same tactics of divide and conquer.
Thatcher may be long dead, but those who shared her hatred of the working classes remain, with The S*n still an ever-compliant mouthpiece for those sinister forces.
They Fear Celtic Supporters, They Fear Us
So why go after the Celtic support, and why now?
Well, again, it’s all about control. Celtic fans and those of many other football clubs around the world have shown that they won’t be dictated to by mass media.
They will make up their own minds about what’s right and wrong.
The recent actions in support of Palestine by the Green Brigade and many other Celtic Supporters Groups are a classic example of this.
The one thing powerful people fear more than anything is losing that power. When ordinary people unite behind a common cause, it scares them.
What Happens Now?
As announced late on Friday, Celtic are conducting their own independently led investigation into the conduct of Police Scotland towards our fans.
That investigation will need time, perhaps even a few months, to play out. In the meantime, expect more confrontational language from The S*n, more sweeping generalizations from the Daily Record, and various other mainstream media outlets doing all they can to vilify Celtic Supporters.
More Protests Likely
But I also expect that the protests will continue, and that, eventually, change will come about. History has shown, time and time again, that suppression doesn’t work in the long term.
The Celtic support have always, proudly, stood on the right side of history. This is no different. There are challenging times ahead, but to those protesting, I say this:
Your cause is just, and in the end you will win.
