[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Absolutely unbelievable. What is the West coming to.

The West? It's a global issue.

Anti-immigrant unrest hits South Africa as Zuma condemns violence

South African police fired rubber bullets and tear gas on Thursday to disperse anti-immigrant protesters in Johannesburg, as the country's president called for a halt to a wave of violence directed at foreigners.

Around 200 protesters, shouting that they wanted immigrants to leave, had pelted passing vehicles and police with rocks in an eastern suburb of the country's biggest commercial city, triggering the show of force.

At least four people have been killed in the unrest that started two weeks ago in Durban, a major port on South Africa's Indian Ocean coast where further clashes broke out on Thursday.

Violence flared days after Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini said in remarks reported by local media that foreigners should leave South Africa. He has since said his comments were misinterpreted.

The foreign ministry of China, a major trade partner, said Chinese-run shops had been damaged in Johannesburg. The Chinese consulate lodged a protest with the police and asked that they ensure the safety of Chinese people.

Johannesburg was the epicenter of anti-foreigner attacks in 2008 that killed more than 60 people as locals vented frustrations over various issues, particularly the high level of unemployment that plagues Africa's most advanced economy.

Riot Police Deployed in Zambian Capital After Anti-Immigrant Violence

Zambia’s government deployed more than 1,000 riot police in the capital on Wednesday as authorities sought to retain order after days of anti-immigrant violence that have left at least five people dead and tarnished the nation’s image as a haven for foreign workers and investment.

Violence erupted on Monday in two impoverished suburbs of Lusaka after rumors circulated on social media that foreign nationals were behind a spate of killings in recent weeks that have left victim’s dismembered. The attacks—which were focused mainly on Zambia’s large community of Rwandan immigrants—quickly spread to several suburbs as mobs ransacked foreign-owned shops. Government officials said that at least five people have been beaten and burned to death since Monday, with more than a dozen hospitalized.

Silent protesters confront hate speech rally

A hate speech rally in Tokyo’s Ginza district was met with a silent counter-demonstration on March 6 with protesters denouncing the rally by holding up placards bearing anti-hate speech messages.

The counter-demonstration was organized by citizens’ groups including Tokyo Q-sui Crew (TQC), whose goal was to fight back in silence against rallies that loudly blare out abusive words against foreigners in Japan.

“We intentionally organized a silent protest to make citizens understand the reality of the hate speech demonstration,” said Masayuki Kusakabe, a representative of TQC.

Hate speech demonstrators waved Japanese flags and marched through the streets of a fashionable shopping area in Ginza shouting rhetoric, including “Destroy Korean schools” and “Abolish the government-funded study abroad program for Chinese people.”