The murder of Henry Nowak has drawn comparisons to the killing of George Floyd, with his final words "I can't breathe" echoing the American case. Six years after riots erupted in Bristol following Floyd's death, the case has sparked outrage and some civil disturbance.
Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson have sought to exploit the death, with Farage releasing a video praising the "extraordinarily dignified" response of Henry's father, Mark Nowak, but calling for action over "cold rage". Farage linked the murder to claims of "anti-white" racism, a two-tier society and mass immigration.
His remarks have been condemned by politicians including Keir Starmer, Shabana Mahmood, Kemi Badenoch and Rupert Lowe, who accused him of making political capital from the family's grief. Critics note that Henry's murderer was given a life sentence and was not dealt with leniently.
There is no clear evidence yet on what went wrong with the police response, and whether guidelines on race and policing are at fault, with an investigation under way. Other tragedies, including the Southport murders and the death of Lee Rigby, have been similarly weaponised by the far right, according to observers.
Farage is said to be trailing in the Makerfield by-election polls after fielding a weak candidate, and is outflanked by ethnonationalists on his right. He has not publicly endorsed Robinson's Unite the Kingdom movement but is seen as benefiting from its stirring of a sense of persecution among white communities.
However, the British public remains realistic enough to understand that riots will not deliver justice or improve the economy, the article argues. The far right's exploitation is seen as the real problem rather than a solution.
