Wherever you look at the moment, you’ll find images of hatred and violence being directed at vulnerable people because of their skin colour or their religion, or both. That vitriol has been whipped up by far-right politicians and the media, for their own political ends, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Yet amidst all that hate there are stories of humanity, support and kindness – stories of ordinary people sticking together in the darkest of times, helping their local communities regardless of colour or creed. Because it’s the right thing to do.
Not in my name
From Southport to Bristol, Sunderland to Liverpool, and all across the country, the British public are standing up to the racist, rioting thugs. They are helping rebuild damaged property, forming human shields around mosques and providing support to those in need. They are saying, loudly and clearly, that the rioters do not speak for them, or for our once-proud nation. Where rioters’ behaviour has brought widespread shame and condemnation, the actions of good-hearted members of the public have brought renewed feelings of hope, cooperation and pride.
In Bristol, a crowd gathered to defend vulnerable asylum seekers from far-right thugs while chanting “we are many, you are few”. Other crowds in other towns, such as Hull, Hartlepool, Rotherham and Sunderland, have turned out in force to help clean up the mess left by the violent actions of rioters and looters. These selfless acts, in defence of local communities, are being conducted by groups as diverse as the communities they seek to protect. If the rioters were hoping to sow division, they have failed miserably. They may even have helped to strengthen local community bonds.
Individual acts of kindness
Apart from the actions of large or small groups of anti-racist protestors, there are many examples of individuals that have taken a stand or offered a helping hand. From the Reverend Sarah Jones in Cardiff, telling an assembled crowd that “peace and love” would ultimately “win this fight”. Or the Imam from Sunderland handing our burgers and chips to the anti-fascist protestors surrounding his mosque.
On social media too, damnation of terrorist behaviour and defence of multiculturalism has been widespread. One noted defender, who called in to the Shelagh Fogarty show on LBC, was 55-year-old “Darren from Reading”. Darren spoke of the need to “make adjustments” for others from different backgrounds, saying how different cultures, colours and music had “enriched” his life. The problems our country faces, he said, were nothing to do with immigration – despite what the likes of Nigel Farage and Richard Tice may claim.
Echoing the spirit of so many that have stood up to be counted over recent days Darren added, “if you live in my community, you are my people” – a sentiment that the rioters will never understand.
Financial support
One of the buildings that came under attack was Spellow Lane Library Hub in Liverpool, opened just last year as an essential space for the local community. A group of 300 rioters who were, said Merseyside Police, “intent on committing serious violence and disorder”, threw bricks and fireworks at police and the library. Many of the books were damaged and much of the ground floor was destroyed.
A fundraiser was immediately set up by 27-year-old Alex McCormick, with a modest target of £500. Within 48 hours, the Go Fund Me page had raised over £116,000 (and still rising) thanks to the generosity of over 6n000 people, including Nigella Lawson.
Multiculturalism works
What far-right extremists will never accept is that multiculturalism works. It’s not a new phenomenon – our cities, and our country, have benefitted from diversity for decades. Immigration is not a dirty word. It is the backbone of our NHS, our public sector, our industries, our culture. It has made us who we are, and we are all the richer for it.
Those that claim otherwise – whether they believe their own rhetoric or not – have their own divisive agenda. Their actions were ignored – or even encouraged – by former Tory governments. But our new prime minister is different. Condemnation has been swift, arrests are being made, and the guilty rioters will be punished. We can only hope that those inciting their actions will also soon feel the full force of the law, as indicated this morning by Stephen Parkinson, director of public prosecutions.
Images of new battles of hate and violence may continue – hopefully not for long – but the thugs cannot win this war. The new government won’t let them, the police won’t let them, but most importantly of all, the British public won’t let them.
If they try to divide us, we’ll link our arms together. If they come brandishing sticks and stones, we’ll be there with brooms and mops. If they taunt us with hate, we’ll be there with hope.
Whether far-right supporters accept it or not, multiculturalism and diversity are here to stay. We can defeat the thugs and racists, and the politicians and media that whip them up into a frenzy. Because we must. And because we are so much better than that.
We are the many, they are the few.
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