A statement by Ian Lawrence Napo General Secretary.
The scenes of serious disorder that we have seen on our streets over the last fortnight are among the worst examples of hate crimes against our communities since the 1930’s.
Certain modern-day politicians would do well to reflect on the divisive rhetoric that they have espoused in recent years as being a major factor in the shameful upsurge in racism and Islamophobia that has blighted our society, and which has followed the dreadful incident in Southport and the loss of three young girls: Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar. Napo members everywhere will express our sincerest condolences to the families and school communities of Southport who are grieving this devastating loss.
The exploitation by far-right groups of this heartbreaking attack on defenceless children is nothing short of despicable; fuelled further by the irresponsible use of social media. Since then, we have seen our communities come under attack through deplorable acts of racist and Islamophobic violence, including random and targeted assaults on people merely because of their colour, as well as Mosques, Muslim and British Asian-owned businesses, and arson attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers.
Napo’s proud history
Just as our predecessors did in the 1930’s when facing down the rise of Oswald Mosely’s ‘Black Shirt’ Nazi sympathisers, many Napo members have contacted us to say that they have taken part in local anti-racism events and that they are not prepared to stand by and allow this hatred to go unchallenged. I personally commend your efforts, but the only caveat that we would offer is that members must exercise their judgement in terms of which events they wish to attend, whilst ensuring that you do everything possible to keep yourselves safe and within the law and to not engage in behaviour that itself may attract the attention of the Police.
As you would expect, we have been in discussion with the employers where we are represented and have urged them to also encourage their staff to work in solidarity with their communities wherever possible, on an individual and collective basis. We have also taken forward the concerns (alongside our sister unions) expressed by many members about the fear and anxiety that many of you have been going through, and the impact of the disorder on the vital work that you undertake. In fairness to the employer, quick decisions were made in certain areas to temporarily close workplaces during the violence, and there is an absolute joint commitment to the safety of staff in such circumstances. We are also ready and willing to work with employers to ensure that their communications also fully recognise the underlying Islamophobic context of these orchestrated acts of terror.
Napo, as part of the Trades Union Congress and General Federation of Trade Unions has a proud record of challenging racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism and the harmful prejudices and stereotyping about migrants and their families.
As the proud son of an immigrant father who settled in these shores from India to help rebuild post-war Britain, I have been able to witness the many positive aspects that migration has brought to our communities. We must never give up on our principal objective, which is to promote and protect the interests of our members within a society that is welcoming and inclusive of all, irrespective of culture, creed and religion.
I hope that you share my wish that this disgraceful violence must be ended, but also that it provides a watershed moment for lasting change. Our children, and the generations that will follow them have the right to live in a society without fear.
Ian Lawrence