Over the weekend, we’ve seen violence and destruction across the country caused by racism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia. The fabric of civilised society is being broken by people spreading violence, hate, and disorder.
Nobody should live in fear; everyone should be free to live as themselves when they are hurting nobody. It is incumbent on us all to stand in allyship with those under attack, reaching out to friends, colleagues, people on the commute, to listen and offer support. They must know they are not alone.
I’m from Birmingham originally and this has brought back childhood memories from the 80s of a family member protecting school children from the National Front. After growing up in Southport from 7, I’ve called Liverpool and Crosby my home since leaving Uni. We pull together here and help one another. This violence was unwelcome.
Mainstream media continues to refer to far right gatherings as “protests”. This is worrying language. Since when was it acceptable to ‘protest’ against and dehumanise fellow human beings’ very existence? One news report chillingly blamed a group of anti-racism protestors for the disorder, even commenting that they were “mostly Asian and wearing face coverings”, whilst referring to the far right as “counter protestors”. I’ve written to the broadcaster involved to complain.
This is not ‘protesting’; it’s rioting. They’ve attacked people, religious and civic buildings, community centres supporting vulnerable people, libraries and student unions supporting lifelong learning, and looted and destroyed hard-working people’s business premises and livelihoods. They even set fire to hotels where asylum seekers are living – fellow human beings who’ve already fled persecution to seek refuge in this country.
100s of police officers have been injured at work this week – they are not human weaponry, they are ordinary people doing their job, and they deserve protecting too.
This has been labelled ‘Southport fallout’ but there’s been civil disorder for the past 4 weeks, and tensions have been simmering for years. Ignorant opportunists need no excuse. It is heartbreakingly disrespectful to the memories of those children, whose souls have not been laid to rest yet and whose families are still grieving. One of their grieving Mum’s actually felt the need to ask for the violence to stop; none of the families should have to think about civil disorder in relation to the deaths of their children.
It’s worryingly akin to the 1930s, with the same groups being singled out and discriminated against, even at the Olympics. Empathetic leadership is needed to cancel out hate and destructive behaviours. Government can do more to temper inflammatory language, calm tensions, and reassure frightened people. More must be done to tackle the root causes, including the harmful rhetoric around immigration, nationality, genetics, religious intolerance, and identity politics which has been allowed to pervade public narrative for far too long.
Laura Evans, CEO August 2024