“No veil over freedom of speech – but no violence”: GRIPP’s reactions to Anti-Immigration riots and counter-protests
Written by members of GRIPP
As anti-immigrant protests and riots spread across the UK in summer 2024 mainly of our communities were effected. Here, members of GRIPP share their thoughts as events unfolded and reflect on how we want things to move forward.
One of London based members observes that “using three little girls’ deaths as an excuse to riot and target people from other countries, attacking because of what one person has done, it’s so wrong.” And another points out “It’s like blaming all white people for the small percentage that is causing damage and hurt to people.”
One of our Northeast England members heard whisperings of protests throughout the day, scheduled to take place at the end of their street. Already fear and apprehension was high, but nothing prepared them for what happened when angry people, some as young as eight years old turned up and trashed their peaceful and culturally diverse community. This was not a protest or a response to a legitimate concern. It was an unruly mob riot that trashed homes, businesses and instilled fear. However, “What filled me with hope was the positive response from our community who came out, cleaned up the street, provided comfort and stood together in solidarity.”
One of our Scotland members describes how their 16-year-old son and his friends went down to join the counter protest in Glasgow. When he got there the police outnumbered the thugs who turned up by about ten to one and the counter protesters by about 30 to one: the fascists went away with their tail between their legs. They never thought they’d see the day that friends and neighbours would live in fear in the UK. “After 14 years of Tory rule and Brexit I never thought the right wing could do any more damage to the UK, but I was wrong. Friends in the local church were terrified to go out and neighbours are in the same position, so I am going down to the central mosque in Glasgow today to show solidarity and support to my fellow citizens who are threatened by thugs and bullies. To quote the fascists “I want my country back”…. yes – from them!”
And from the Highlands comes a plea to sanity. “How can anyone, including the people committing these acts not see that if we tolerate hatred to even one person, we open the door to tolerating hatred to everyone. How can that be the way we want our world to be? The government should hang their heads in shame and bear the brunt of the blame though. Their divisive policies, scaremongering and piss poor education system are fuelling this fire.” And a GRIPP refugee member shares, “It’s been a really horrible experience faced especially by people seeking asylum who lived in the hotels and the Muslim community. Some of our members in the hotel still have fear of going out due to what they are seeing on the Internet.”
A few weeks after events seem to be calming, GRIPP members came together to discuss what had been happening in their communities and share their concerns and reflections. One Refugee member was very clear, “As someone who comes from a country where there is NO freedom of speech, I really believe that everyone has a right to voice their opinions – but not the violence. And the destruction of communities, all our communities, is just senseless and only making everyone’s lives worse.” Another member spoke of the frustration with the accusation of communities not integrating, “Noone is acknowledging the role of poverty apartheid in these matters. With some communities ghettoed in hotels, others forced to live in poverty by the systems around us – how are we meant to integrate when these experiences of poverty force us to be separated and isolated?”
We, as GRIPP, stand together with strong voices, saying No to Racism. We acknowledge our different experiences, perceptions and understandings, and we must not put a veil over what people are permitted to say. But we are all human beings, regardless of race, and we all deserve to live in peace, accepting everyone, from disabled people to people from other countries: Our GRIPP is INCLUSIVE.