A Sikh man named Vickrum Digwa has already been convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Scott Lucas discusses this case and American Trumpists’ influence on far-right, anti-democracy British politicians and activists. (1)
Jamie Grierson reports on the case and its aftermath. From her report, it appears clear that a Sikh man named Vickrum Digwa fatally stabbed Nowak without justification in December 2025. And, as just mentioned, Digwa was found guiltry in a court trial of the murder.
Police arriving on the scene immediately after the stabbing, in a tragic and grotesque turn, arrested Nowak and ignored his stab wounds and basically let him bleed out in their custody.
After Digwa was jailed, Nowak’s father, Mark Nowak, condemned the “inhumane and degrading” treatment of his son by police, but said: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone.”This is another instance of the current Nationalist International of far-right parties and groups at work. The report also goes into a longer history of mutual British and American efforts to influence each others’ politics, including in the days of the original America First movement.
However, some high-profile rightwingers seized upon the case. Among them was Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the social media platform X, who posted repeatedly about Nowak’s treatment, including claims that official police policy required officers to be “racist against whites”. Musk also reposted commentary on the case from far-right agitators including the UK’s Tommy Robinson.
The US vice-president, JD Vance, claimed on Friday that mass migration was to blame for Nowak’s murder. He said Nowak would be alive “if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants, many of whom despise the west and the people who love it”. [my emphasis] (2)
Grierson reports, “The Independent Office for Police Conduct, a watchdog that deals with police complaints and investigates deaths after police contact, is investigating how the police officers involved handled Nowak’s arrest. It is expected to report back in three months.“ But that hasn’t stopped wretched characters like J.D. Vance and Nigel Farage, the creepy head of Britain’s Reform UK party. Le Monde reports:
British leader Keir Starmer said on Wednesday, June 3, there was "no justification" for violence after protesters clashed with police in a demonstration against officers' handling of the murder of a white student by a Sikh man. The prime minister branded as "unforgivable" calls by hard-right firebrand Nigel Farage for people to respond with "pure cold rage" to the death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak – a murder that has become highly politicized in the UK. ...The British family singing group, the Marsh Family, who do brilliant satirical songs, has done one about Opus Dei Vance’s intervention in the politics of the case, “Bile and Lies”: (4)
Two people were arrested late on Tuesday during a protest led by far-right figures that turned violent, despite pleas from Nowak's father that his son's murder should not be used "to create further division, hatred or tension." Eleven police officers were injured during the demonstration in Southampton, which saw around 100 protesters pull apart garden fences, throw bricks, flares and chairs, and roll a flaming bin at police. Officers responded with a spray on demonstrators and hit them with riot shields. [my emphasis]
A Greg Bovino footnote
Greg Bovino, until recently head of US Customs and Border Patrol (CPB), just attended a meeting of hard-right European nationalists and xenophobes. The idea of a “Nationalist International” is a bizarre concept. But there actually is such a thing in practice if not in name. (4)
Bovino in an interview before the conference called World War II German general Ernst Rommel one of his inspirations. Rommel is considered to have been a capable general, as shown by the number of British and American soldiers his forces killed.
Rommel was at least marginally involved in the 1944 assassination attempt against Hitler - which is now celebrated in Germany history as a patriotic and justified act of resistance - and Rommel committed suicide to avoid being arrested and executed after the attempt failed.
The intensive US bombing campaign against Iraq in 1998 was officially designated as "Operation Desert Fox", which was famously the nickname of Ernst Rommel. Whatever credit Rommel deserves for his part in the 1944 plot, naming an American military campaign after one of Hitler's most important generals was just bizarre.
Notes:
(1) J.D. Vance Exploits A Murder to Undermine UK Government. Scott Lucas Worldview YouTube channel 06/07/2026. <https://youtu.be/pigPXeFG04M?si=dI73FVzx7Bd3wYPI> (Accessed; 2026-07-06).
(2) Grierson, Jamie (2026): How Britain was rocked by Henry Nowak’s murder – and why the US intervened. Guardian 06/05/2026.
(3) UK PM slams violence outbreaks after footage shows dying stabbing victim handcuffed by police, Le Monde/AFP. <https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/06/03/outrage-grows-in-britain-after-footage-shows-dying-stabbing-victim-handcuffed-by-police_6754067_4.html> (Accessed; 2026-07-06).
(4) (3) "Bile and Lies" - Marsh Family parody of The Eagles "Lyin' Eyes" about JD Vance views on Henry Nowak. Marsh Family YouTube channel 06/06/2026. <https://youtu.be/2J95CTmZUUM?si=nMs49kxF0jQh0jEC> (Accessed; 2026-07-06).
(5) Far-Right Leaders, Including Ex-CBP Chief Greg Bovino, Convene in Portugal for "Remigration Summit." Democracy Now! YouTube channel 06/04/2026. <https://youtu.be/YJM7iLg1KFc?si=TU8EEUB1RtyjX8Up> (Accessed; 2026-07-06).
No comments:
Post a Comment