Untold Realities: RAPAR on the ‘Riots’


The Refugee Experience: Escaping Again


Being a refugee isn’t merely about crossing borders; it’s a perpetual state of vulnerability. Imagine always glancing over your shoulder, fearing danger, and yearning for safety. The trauma of displacement lingers, even after finding refuge in a new land. Uncertainty and memories of what was left behind: the faces, smells and sounds that continue to haunt shape the ongoing refugee experience. It’s like living in a museum, where everything remains tantalizingly out of reach behind thick glass—a life observed but not fully lived.

Fear and Vigilance: Life in the Shadows


Picture this: you’re in an unfamiliar city, surrounded by strangers. Each passerby becomes a potential threat. You check over your shoulder, wary of anyone who might harbour ill intentions. The fear of acid attacks, whether real or imagined, weighs heavily. And you warn others against wearing scarves, because even clothing choices can mark you as different. It’s a life lived in the shadows, where safety remains elusive and trust is scarce. The psychological toll of constant vigilance erodes the soul, leaving scars that no one else can see.

Social Media: A Double-Edged Sword


Social media, the great connector and divider. On one hand, it unites people across borders, allowing them to share stories, find common ground, and build communities. But on the other hand, it can amplify hate, misinformation, and fear. Far-right groups exploit these platforms, spreading their toxic ideologies. Meanwhile, mainstream media often pours fuel on the fire, sensationalising events and deepening divisions. It’s a digital battlefield where narratives clash, and truth becomes elusive.


Remember those haunting images, the ones etched into your consciousness? People fleeing hotels, seeking refuge in wooded areas while hotels were under attack. Was it all planned? Perhaps not explicitly, but during the summer months when schools are out, tensions rise. The government’s decisions, such as placing people in hotels, become puzzle pieces. And in this chaotic mosaic, refugees, people seeking asylum and many of the rioters who followed the Far Right call emerge as victims of the same enemy: the systemic drive for profit that is the reason for capitalism to exist and that needs division, anger, isolation and the consequent scapegoating to thrive. It’s a cruel irony—the very people seeking safety are caught in the crossfire.

The Mushroom Treatment: Kept in the Dark


“We’re given the mushroom treatment,” someone says. It’s a darkly humorous way to describe how marginalised communities are often kept ignorant, fed misinformation, left in the dark, and abandoned to grow in isolation. This isn’t unique to immigrants; indigenous communities share this plight. The potent combination of resource deprivation and lack of education perpetuates discrimination. White communities in areas with few Black and Brown residents may have preconceived notions, but they don’t truly understand racism. The Right to Work, so that we can experience our independent agency and contribute within the society, and access to meaningful education: these are our collective antidotes, lights to dispel the shadows.

Solidarity: When Communities Stand Together


Amidst the chaos, there’s hope. A couple of weeks ago, when the Far Right tried to spread hate, fear, and violence many people, regardless of race, faith, or political view, joined the fight against discrimination and fascism. They stood alongside refugees, making a powerful statement. Trust is built, and comfort is found in collective action. It’s a reminder that we’re not taking anything away; we’re coming together to dismantle the barriers that divide us. Solidarity is our weapon against hate, the force that binds us across fractured lines.

Contradictions and Education


Contradictions abound. Some indigenous voices cry, “Give our country back!” Yet, the very fabric of this nation is woven from diverse threads. We must educate, not just about “Life in the UK” but about the shared struggles, the scars of dictatorships, corruptions, wars and so on… Only then can we bridge the gap between “us” and “them.” It’s not about erasing history; it’s about understanding the complex tapestry that shapes our present.

The Corporate Web: Serco and Beyond


Dig deeper, and you’ll find multinational corporate fingerprints. The leadership of Serco, now being paid by the Government to assess people on benefits alongside controlling a multitude of detention centres and implicated in many allegations of human rights abuses, has connections that stretch back to Churchill’s grandchildren. The intricacies of power and influence weave tangled webs that knowledge and awareness, alongside action, can dismantle. Let’s shine a light on the hidden threads—the ones that connect policy decisions to distant billionaire boardrooms.


In conclusion, our fight against discrimination requires education, empathy and unity in action. Let’s break down the walls that separate us, one conversation and another mobilisation against the far right at a time.  The people united will never be defeated.


*The views represented here derive from a participatory action research semi structured discussion in RAPAR about the impact of the recent riots on our lives that have been written up into this blog by one of our Leaders, Farid Vahidi.



This piece is part of the Untold Realities of Poverty in the UK which is a key tool within our campaign “Poverty Is a Human Rights Issue”. The campaign aims to: