Trivialising migrant deaths: why words matter

The escalating tragedy of thousands of migrants’ lives being lost every year during attempted Mediterranean crossings is one of the most difficult issues facing the EU’s immigration policy. However, the importance of addressing this issue has been undermined by comments in April 2015 in the UK’s most popular newspaper (The Sun) by Katie Hopkins, the controversial media commentator.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Mediterranean migrants: Hundreds feared dead after boat capsizes http://www.europeansources.info/record/mediterranean-migrants-hundreds-feared-dead-after-boat-capsizes/

The Independent, 19.04.15: Katie Hopkins has just written a piece so hateful that it might give Hitler pause – why was it published? http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/katie-hopkins-when-is-enough-enough-10186490.html

The Guardian, 19.04.15: Katie Hopkins calling migrants vermin recalls the darkest events of history http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/19/katie-hopkins-migrants-vermin-darkest-history-drownings

The Conversation, 20.04.15: Katie Hopkins and The Sun: when the unreadable prints the unspeakable http://theconversation.com/katie-hopkins-and-the-sun-when-the-unreadable-prints-the-unspeakable-40505

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

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