Race Riots and the EDL
This past week, we’ve seen mass riots and protests targeted at Muslims and non-white people in different communities all over the country.
It all began with the stabbing of three young girls in Southport. The attacker was ‘suspected’ to be Muslim but turned out to be Welsh. His heritage is Rwandan, so he was labelled as a ‘son of immigrants’ rather than a British citizen, which doesn’t change in spite of his crimes.
Supposedly in response to this attack and to get some sort of twisted justice, the English Defence League (EDL) planned riots and protests all over England. These riots saw mosques targeted, as well as innocent people in their communities attacked for being non-white.
In my own city of Manchester - a black man was attacked by a mob of white people for no apparent reason. The police intervened after a while and only then to restrain the victim.
Countries are noticing our actions with Malaysia issuing travel warnings to the UK. They’re right to: I don’t feel safe in the city I’ve grown up in my entire life because of people with hateful ideas on what it means to be British.
These riots and protests are a direct result of Islamophobia and are the definition of terrorism. The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has condemned the attacks and said that all involved would regret it. Despite that, he as well as key leaders have refused to label these acts as terrorism and Islamophobic behaviour.
And that’s the issue. On one hand, these awful things are happening. But there is no response on how this has happened and what it actually is - terrorism. And it’s all a result of the rhetoric being used in politics for the last twenty years about immigrants and what a threat they are to society.
These riots and protests are being conducted by white British people. They are not being labelled terrorists despite smashing up libraries and mosques. That is targeted behaviour.
The last few days show us that white British people can smash up mosques and not be labelled terrorists. But if non-white British people started smashing up churches or synagogues or temples or any other religious place of worship, it is instantly terrorism.
These double standards have been apparent for so long and many Muslims and non-white people have seen this coming. To not have leaders step up for us now when we need them to is upsetting, insulting, and disgraceful.
What are we teaching the next generation, my generation? Can only white people be regarded as British? How is this the multicultural, diverse Britain that supposedly doesn’t have racism?
The fact that the EDL is not even an official terrorism group is worse - how can their actions be that of any other label?
It’s 2024 and I still have to be scared to be out in my city because I’m not white. Because someone thinks that is reason enough to do something to me.
Our leaders need to do more. It’s terrorism, plain and simple, and it should be treated as such. People who have taken part in these riots and protests should be dealt with as terrorists.
Non-white people can be British. We deserve to feel safe in our homes and communities. This must be protected from terrorists, racists, and thugs out to disrupt our country.
OUR country.
*Photo obtained from Manchester Evening News, all rights reserved: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/urgent-cobra-meeting-held-after-29676963 #riots2024 #protests2024 #middlesborough #southportstabbing #racists #edl #englishdefenceleague #tommyrobinson #farright #terrorism #sirkeirstarmer #islamophobia #muslims
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