The Rivers of Blood speech

 

The "Rivers of Blood" Speech was a speech delivered by British politician Enoch Powell on April 20, 1968, to the annual general meeting of the West Midlands Area Conservative Political Centre in Birmingham. In his speech, Powell passionately argued against the policy of mass immigration from the Commonwealth to the United Kingdom. He predicted that the continuation of this policy would lead to social unrest, racial conflict, and ultimately the "rivers of blood" flowing through the streets of British cities.

Powell's speech was highly controversial and met with widespread condemnation from both the Conservative Party and the public. It was seen as inflammatory and racist, and it contributed to the decline of Powell's political career. However, it also won Powell a devoted following among some voters who shared his views on immigration.

Here are some of the key quotes from Powell's "Rivers of Blood" Speech:

• "We must be mad, literally mad, as a nation to be pouring multi-racial poison into the bloodstream of our society."
• "As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding; I see the River Tiber foaming with much blood."
• "Racial integration, as I have said often before, means the eventual swamping of the White people of Britain by the coloured races."
• "The alarm bells are ringing loud and clear again today. The tide has turned, and the dark clouds are beginning to gather once more."

These quotes capture the essence of Powell's message: he believed that mass immigration from the Commonwealth was a grave threat to the British way of life and would lead to the destruction of British society.

The "Rivers of Blood" Speech was a watershed moment in British politics. It marked the end of the consensus on immigration that had existed for much of the post-war period. It also led to a period of heightened racial tension and division in British society.

The speech's legacy is complex and contested. Some argue that it was a necessary wake-up call to the dangers of mass immigration, while others believe that it was a racist and divisive speech that set back the cause of race relations in Britain for decades.

Ultimately, the "Rivers of Blood" Speech remains a pivotal moment in British history, and its impact continues to be felt today.