Race & Riots 2024

In 2011, I wrote about the nationwide riots in the UK sparked by the death of Mark Duggan at the hands of the police. Over a decade later, this country finds itself in the grip of another wave of violence and unrest. On 29 July 2024, eleven children and two adults were stabbed at a dance class in Southport. Unfortunately, three of the children have died. This tragedy has shaken the country to its core due to the magnitude of this horrific crime. The suspect in this case is Axel Rudakubana who was 17 years old at the time.

Initially, the media withheld the identity of Axel due to his age. In the absence of verified information, false reports and rumours spread rapidly, particularly among far-right circles. These groups falsely claimed that the perpetrator was an illegal Muslim immigrant who had entered the country by boat. However, the truth is that Axel is a British citizen, born in Wales, and is a Christian—not a Muslim.  Despite these facts, the misinformation ignited a wave of riots, starting in Southport, where a mosque was attacked. The unrest quickly spread to numerous cities across the UK, particularly in the north. There have been Arson attacks, shops have been looted, immigrant-owned businesses and property have been destroyed, hotels housing migrants have been targeted and there have been numerous attacks on brown and black people as well as Police Officers. Those who hold far-right beliefs must understand that the actions of a few individuals from a particular race do not define the entire race.  It is unfair that innocent ethnic minorities have to fear for their safety due to the colour of their skin. The violence of the rioters is not justified and I'm glad that the Law is coming down hard on them.

I've come across multiple videos of rioters being questioned about their motives. Many express anti-immigrant sentiments, with statements such as, "Immigrants are taking over our country," "We want our country back", "Immigrants are taking all of our jobs", "They are committing all the crimes and aren't helping our country". These views are rooted in ignorance. According to the 2021 census, the UK is 81.7% white, with 74.4% being white British—clearly still the majority. Historically, during World War II, around 2.5 million Indian troops supported British soldiers. After the war, facing a labour shortage, the UK invited immigrants from India and the Caribbean to help rebuild the country. Immigrants have made major contributions to British society. Let's not forget that the British Empire colonised/invaded roughly 90% of the world's nations and the exploitation of these nations helped to build the British economy. The UK's current demographic makeup is a direct result of this history.

Another perspective to consider is why these rioters harbour such strong anti-immigrant sentiments. The north of England, in particular, has higher rates of poverty, fewer job opportunities, and higher levels of crime compared to the south. There is a significant North-South divide in the country. Many of these people feel marginalised and forgotten by society, and their frustrations are exacerbated by the false information spread about immigrants by figures such as Tommy Robinson.  I believe this ideology is why the Reform Party had 4 million votes in the last general election. Immigrants have become scapegoats for the broader issues facing the UK, including economic hardship and social inequality. Much of this anger is misplaced, fueled by racism and a lack of understanding that ethnic minorities/immigrants often have to work harder and face barriers that white British people do not.

What does give me hope for the UK is the widespread counter-protests that have taken place across the country which outnumbered the far-right protests. People of all races—Black, White, and Asian have come together to stand against racism. This is the UK I'm proud of. As a Black woman who grew up surrounded by people from all ethnic backgrounds, I have always valued the diversity that makes the UK unique, especially in London. Not everyone in the world has the privilege of experiencing such rich cultural variety. I can have a chat with my Scottish neighbour, order Indian food, and learn Arabic from the Moroccan handyman working on my house. We live in a globalised world, and this diversity is something to be celebrated. I understand that racism will always exist in society, but there are countless individuals committed to building a more inclusive society where people from all walks of life come together to stand up for what is right.