RIGHT-WING activist Laurence Fox has been roundly condemned for changing his Twitter profile picture to a swastika made from the LGBT Pride flag.
The Reclaim Party founder had his account on the social media site locked over the move, which sparked outrage.
Fox complained people were allowed to call the Union flag a “symbol of fascism and totalitarianism” adding: “You cannot criticise the holy flags.”
Fox was backed by other right-wingers - including GB News presenter Darren Grimes, who tweeted a cry laughing emoji in response.
The leader of the Conservatives on the Greater London Assembly responded by tweeting an emoji of a facepalm adding: “Oh, Laurence.”
I won’t share Laurence Fox’s profile pic where he manipulated the Pride flag in such a way that a swastika can be seen. Under that symbol, my country of birth once murdered millions of people because of who they are. To appropriate that to fuel transphobia is utterly deplorable.
— Prof Tanja Bueltmann (@TanjaBueltmann) June 27, 2022
German-born Professor Tanja Bueltmann, chair in international history at Strathclyde University, tweeted: “I won’t share Laurence Fox’s profile pic where he manipulated the Pride flag in such a way that a swastika can be seen.
“Under that symbol, my country of birth once murdered millions of people because of who they are. To appropriate that to fuel transphobia is utterly deplorable.
“In Germany, the use of the swastika is a criminal act punishable with up to 3 years in prison.
“So the fact that a few other well-known commentators laughed about the tweet and some politicians essentially diminished its seriousness is also deplorable.
“This appropriation of the swastika is one of the outcomes of normalising transphobia: a sick and twisted spin on trans rights that invokes fascism. It is deranged and dangerous. For Fox to choose to do this after Oslo is truly disgusting.”
The trans newsreader India Willoughby noted the offensive move came less than 48 hours after two people were killed in a shooting by what police have said was “an act of Islamist terrorism” in a gay bar in the Norwegian capital Oslo.
She said: “In some countries he’d go to jail for displaying a swastika. I hope Twitter issue a permanent ban, and the Metropolitan Police prosecute.”
In response to another Twitter user pointing out that the Nazis were responsible for the mass murder of gay people during the Holocaust, Fox replied: “Let's not forget the six million jews they also killed, and the hundred million murdered in the name of Diversity, equity and inclusion (current incarnation of communism) since 1917.
“Also, please take off the "T" from LGB. Homosexuals fought hard for their civil rights.”
Fox, who has been at the centre of controversy before for participating in anti-lockdown protests and railing against the Black Lives Matter movement, stood as the Reclaim candidate for the 2021 London mayoral elections, where he was endorsed by former Ukip leader Nigel Farage.
He is currently facing a libel trial brought by three people he referred to as "paedophiles" on Twitter.
Former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake, Coronation Street actress Nicola Thorp and drag artist Crystal are suing the actor following an online row in 2020.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said they were "not aware of any police involvement in this matter".
