Pogrom

South Africa’s Anti-Immigrant Violence: A Pogrom Unfolding

The phrase “South African protesters go door-to-door forcing immigrants from their homes” paints a grim picture, and the reality, as described, is even more stark and disturbing. When we hear about individuals being “escorted” to police vans, including vulnerable women and children, and men asserting their legal right to be in the country, the term “protesters” feels woefully inadequate. It’s a description that seems to deliberately soften the edges of a far more aggressive and violent act.

There’s a sense of weary familiarity for some observers watching these events unfold. The timing, particularly close to national elections, raises significant questions and a healthy dose of suspicion.… Continue reading