UK racist riots: open letter to Keir Starmer from 80 anti-racist and migrants' rights organisations

‍

August 5th 2024

‍

Dear Prime Minister, 

‍

The unprecedented levels of racist rioting across the UK over the last few days is utterly deplorable. 

‍

It is devastating that the tragic crime committed in Southport continues to be associated with ongoing violence against people of colour. It is contemptuous of the grief experienced by the families and of the Southport communities affected.

‍

It is clear that this eruption of violent racism has long been simmering under the surface. What is happening is the direct result of years of normalised racism and Islamophobia, enabled by mainstream politicians and the British media. Many of us warned of these outcomes during the election period which saw an intensification of Islamophobia, and anti-migrant narratives. 

‍

We are particularly concerned that certain sections of the media and political elite have chosen to take the ongoing violence as an opportunity to entertain debates about ‘legitimate grievances’, ‘integration’ and immigration. Muslim communities and people of colour should never have to justify their level of integration in order to claim basic protection from criminal acts, and it is incredulous that we should have those debates in the midst of this unprovoked and sustained violence. To blame the victims of this violence is an insult to people of colour across the country.

‍

The Islamophobia, racism and anti-migrant violence we have witnessed on the streets of the UK represents the rot that has become normalised as part of our politics. The new Labour government must take this opportunity to reset the direction of travel and foster zero tolerance for far-right, racist and anti-migrant narratives. 

‍

As organisations that work on racial justice and Islamophobia, we say that it is the government’s responsibility to take command of the narrative and show leadership. An emergency Cobra meeting is insufficient, this is a national emergency and Parliament should be recalled to effect a national, coordinated political response which gets to the root of this violence.

‍

The government must acknowledge that challenging the far right is not simply a question of online misinformation, or increased police surveillance but involves a wholesale shift in our political culture, language and policies. It is urgent that Parliament is recalled to address the scale of this crisis, and ensure that all people and communities of colour are protected.

‍

Yours sincerely,

‍

Runnymede Trust

Action for Race Equality

Amnesty International UK

Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance

Anti-Racist Cumbria

Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees (AVID)

Beyond Detention

Big Leaf Foundation

Black Equity Organisation

Black South West Network

BME National

Boaz Trust

BRAP

Bristol Law Centre

CARAS

Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN)

Children's Rights Alliance for England

Chilypep 

Choose Love

City of Sanctuary UK

Discrimination Law Association

End Violence Against Women Coalition

Equality Act Review

Europia

Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT UK)

forRefugees

Freedom from Torture

Friends, Families and Travellers

Gazelle Professional Services

GIPSIL

Good Chance Theatre

Govan Community Project 

Greater Manchester Ethnic Communities Network and Manchester BME Network 

HEAL Collective

HIAS + JCORE

Hibiscus

HOPE not Hate

Humanity Harmony Opportunity

Humans for Rights Network 

Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA)

Inclusive North

INQUEST

Islamic Society of Britain

Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI)

Just for Kids Law

Migrant Democracy Project

Migrant Voice

Migrants Organise

Migrants' Rights Network

Music Action International

Muslim Council of Britain

NHS BME Network

Nigeria Community Association

North East Law Centre

Open Rights group 

Operation Black Vote

Our Second Home

Oxfam UK

Pennine Oak's

POMOC

Positive Action in Housing

Praxis

Prevent Watch 

Race Equality Foundation

Race Equality Network

Rainbow Migration

RefuAid 

Refugee Action

Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London (RAMFEL)

Refugee Women Connect

S-REP

Safe Passage International

Southeast and East Asian Centre (SEEAC)

Student Action for Refugees (STAR)

Sub-Sahara Advisory Panel

Swindon City of Sanctuary

The William Gomes Podcast 

Together with Migrant Children

Traveller Movement 

Ubele Initiative

UK ISLAMIC MISSION

Voices in Exile

War on Want

Waterloo Community Counselling

Women's Aid

Gloucestershire Race Collective

Inclusive Equal Rights UK (York)

South Asian Health Action

Global Afrikan Congress UK

United Front Alliance UK

Anti-Tribalism Movement