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There are probably areas in Toronto where you feel safe and areas where you feel less safe.
It's the same here in cities in the UK.
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Contact the PP Team
Racism in England and particularly in Bradford
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It's the same here in cities in the UK.
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Anti-racism campaigner’s London book events cancelled amid threat of far-right violence
Hanif Kureishi, Billy Bragg and freedom of speech groups have voiced alarm after a number of venues cancelled events to promote a book by an anti-racism campaigner amid threats and fears that the recent riots have emboldened the far right.
An east London bookshop this week became the latest venue to pull plans to promote Rebel Sounds, a book about the role music plays in the fight against racism and other struggles.
It follows the scrapping of similar events at bookshops and pubs over the last few weeks, and the cancellation by the BFI London film festival (LFF) last month of a screening of a documentary about the far right.
Joe Mulhall, the author of Rebel Sounds and director of research at the anti-racism organisation Hope Not Hate, said: “Sadly, it feels like we are going backwards.”
Mulhall held an event at a secret location last Sunday night after a pub cancelled what was intended to be an evening of discussion and music about the book.
“The irony wasn’t lost on us that we were having to meet in secret when this is a book about people being forced to do things in a clandestine way in the past in Britain because of the rise of the National Front or other countries because of repressive regimes,” he said.
“You can’t blame small independent venues like bookshops and pubs but you would think that the LFF is big enough that they shouldn’t have cancelled. They have the capacity and resources to protect an event if they wanted to.”
Another bookshop that cancelled a few weeks ago after receiving threats has now pulled out of plans to restage the event in December after getting new threats immediately after it was listed online.
Threats have been made by email and in phone calls, while extremists from groups angered by Hope Not Hate’s work have been publishing numbers on social media and urging supporters to call.
Police were called to a branch of Waterstones in late September when a far-right activist took a seat in the front row and attempted to disrupt the event.
The development has shocked artists and veterans of anti-racist campaigns who had believed the days of venues being in fear of the far right had been consigned to the past.
But the summer violence – described by Keir Starmer as far-right riots – has contributed to a changed atmosphere. It comes after the far right and conspiracy theorists have mobilised aggressive protests against venues hosting shows featuring drag queens reading to young children.
Bragg, the socialist singer-songwriter whose own anti-fascist activism through music features in Mulhall’s book, told the Guardian: “This reminds me of the 1970s and 80s when we had to do solidarity gigs for people.
“People’s safety is so important but we need to stand up to this kind of thing, which really is a freedom of speech issue and in this case there are threats of violence.”
Kureishi, whose fiction has drawn from his own experience of the threat posed to British Asians by the National Front in his youth, said he was shocked to hear about Mulhall’s experience. Another British writer, Guy Gunaratne, said: “That these readings are now being conducted clandestinely should concern everyone committed to free speech.”
Jemimah Steinfeld, the CEO of Index on Censorship, said she was concerned about what appeared to be a “worrying trend”. “If even an organisation like the BFI is afraid then what hope is there for smaller venues and what message does it send out? You have to put the people working at those places first, but we are also seeing a retreat into safer spaces and it’s something we as a society will regret.”
Daniel Gorman, the director of English PEN, said: “English PEN is deeply concerned that threats from the far right have led to venues cancelling planned events with writers and artists. This is part of a worrying trend curtailing the freedom of expression of authors and performers.”
Last month the LFF cancelled the screening of Undercover: Exposing the Far Right, a documentary that followed Hope Not Hate campaigners. It remains unclear whether the BFI was acting in the face of viable threats.
Kristy Matheson, the director of the LFF, said: “I took onboard the expert opinion of colleagues around the safety and wellbeing risks that the screening could have created for audiences and the team and that informed our decision.”
The documentary’s director, Havana Marking, said: “I don’t think it was taken seriously enough in London at the beginning and then there was a panic. What needs to really happen now is that there is a conversation to ensure this does not happen again.”
THE GUARDIAN
Hanif Kureishi, Billy Bragg and freedom of speech groups have voiced alarm after a number of venues cancelled events to promote a book by an anti-racism campaigner amid threats and fears that the recent riots have emboldened the far right.
An east London bookshop this week became the latest venue to pull plans to promote Rebel Sounds, a book about the role music plays in the fight against racism and other struggles.
It follows the scrapping of similar events at bookshops and pubs over the last few weeks, and the cancellation by the BFI London film festival (LFF) last month of a screening of a documentary about the far right.
Joe Mulhall, the author of Rebel Sounds and director of research at the anti-racism organisation Hope Not Hate, said: “Sadly, it feels like we are going backwards.”
Mulhall held an event at a secret location last Sunday night after a pub cancelled what was intended to be an evening of discussion and music about the book.
“The irony wasn’t lost on us that we were having to meet in secret when this is a book about people being forced to do things in a clandestine way in the past in Britain because of the rise of the National Front or other countries because of repressive regimes,” he said.
“You can’t blame small independent venues like bookshops and pubs but you would think that the LFF is big enough that they shouldn’t have cancelled. They have the capacity and resources to protect an event if they wanted to.”
Another bookshop that cancelled a few weeks ago after receiving threats has now pulled out of plans to restage the event in December after getting new threats immediately after it was listed online.
Threats have been made by email and in phone calls, while extremists from groups angered by Hope Not Hate’s work have been publishing numbers on social media and urging supporters to call.
Police were called to a branch of Waterstones in late September when a far-right activist took a seat in the front row and attempted to disrupt the event.
The development has shocked artists and veterans of anti-racist campaigns who had believed the days of venues being in fear of the far right had been consigned to the past.
But the summer violence – described by Keir Starmer as far-right riots – has contributed to a changed atmosphere. It comes after the far right and conspiracy theorists have mobilised aggressive protests against venues hosting shows featuring drag queens reading to young children.
Bragg, the socialist singer-songwriter whose own anti-fascist activism through music features in Mulhall’s book, told the Guardian: “This reminds me of the 1970s and 80s when we had to do solidarity gigs for people.
“People’s safety is so important but we need to stand up to this kind of thing, which really is a freedom of speech issue and in this case there are threats of violence.”
Kureishi, whose fiction has drawn from his own experience of the threat posed to British Asians by the National Front in his youth, said he was shocked to hear about Mulhall’s experience. Another British writer, Guy Gunaratne, said: “That these readings are now being conducted clandestinely should concern everyone committed to free speech.”
Jemimah Steinfeld, the CEO of Index on Censorship, said she was concerned about what appeared to be a “worrying trend”. “If even an organisation like the BFI is afraid then what hope is there for smaller venues and what message does it send out? You have to put the people working at those places first, but we are also seeing a retreat into safer spaces and it’s something we as a society will regret.”
Daniel Gorman, the director of English PEN, said: “English PEN is deeply concerned that threats from the far right have led to venues cancelling planned events with writers and artists. This is part of a worrying trend curtailing the freedom of expression of authors and performers.”
Last month the LFF cancelled the screening of Undercover: Exposing the Far Right, a documentary that followed Hope Not Hate campaigners. It remains unclear whether the BFI was acting in the face of viable threats.
Kristy Matheson, the director of the LFF, said: “I took onboard the expert opinion of colleagues around the safety and wellbeing risks that the screening could have created for audiences and the team and that informed our decision.”
The documentary’s director, Havana Marking, said: “I don’t think it was taken seriously enough in London at the beginning and then there was a panic. What needs to really happen now is that there is a conversation to ensure this does not happen again.”
THE GUARDIAN
Young, Muslim and Criminal: poverty, racism and inequality in Bradford
20 years on from the Bradford Riots, LSE’s Mohammed Qasim explores the ongoing impact, racial tensions and inequality for the Pakistani community there.
www.lse.ac.uk
Young, Muslim and Criminal: poverty, racism and inequality in Bradford
20 years on from the Bradford Riots, LSE’s Mohammed Qasim explores the ongoing impact, racial tensions and inequality for the Pakistani community there.
www.lse.ac.uk
Young, Muslim and Criminal: how poverty, racism and inequality have impacted the Pakistani community in Bradford
The UK has seen a huge increase in Muslim prisoners over the past 20 years. Mohammed Qasim spent four years following a group of young, Bradford-based men engaged in criminal activities to understand their lives. His book shines a light on how racial tensions, inequality and a lack of opportunities have impacted on an already marginalised community.
Young, Muslim men are often portrayed in the media as terrorists and criminals. And some might point to the statistics to justify this bias – Muslims now make up 17 per cent of the prison population, despite being just 5 per cent of the general population, figures that have doubled since 2002. But to accept this narrative is to ignore the complex picture of discrimination, inequality and lack of opportunity that have trapped some communities in continuing deprivation.Dr Mohammed Qasim, a Visiting Fellow in the Mannheim Centre for Criminology at LSE, has been following the paths of those involved in criminal activity to understand why men from often traditional, conservative communities are becoming involved in crime. His book, Young, Muslim and Criminal, details the experiences of British-Pakistani youths caught up in criminal activity in Bradford.
“I spent four years with a social group of young Pakistani, Muslim men who were involved in crime to understand their lives from their perspective,” he says. “Muslim men are four times more likely to be in prison than their white counterparts, and in the eyes of the media, the narrative is that these young, Muslim men are just becoming more criminal. But it’s important to ask, what's going on here? Why are they getting caught up in crime, and what part does racism or police brutality play in this?”
Muslim communities are one of the poorest in the UK. Their youngsters are one of the most uneducated group in the UK.
20 years on from the Bradford Riots, poverty and racism still remain
Having grown up in Bradford, Dr Qasim has direct experience of the realities of life in a community stigmatised in the past by far-right groups such as the National Front and British National Party. Those particular groups may no longer be as active, but their demise hasn’t meant a lessening of racial tensions, he explains.“I was a victim of racism,” he says. “We grew up in a community that was very segregated and where we were bombarded with lots of different emotions and tensions. Many were from immigrant families, so our parents had to work very hard, often in long-hour, minimum wage jobs.
“Sadly, I would say it's much worse now. The statistics speak for themselves - despite all of the work that goes on to make the issue better, we still have huge problems with poverty and deprivation. Muslim communities are one of the poorest in the UK. Their youngsters are one of the most uneducated groups in the UK. And in terms of prison population, the numbers of Muslims are only increasing at present.”
While the city’s picture of segregated communities, poor educational offers and employment glass ceilings can be seen repeated throughout the country, Bradford District, which has the largest proportion of people of Pakistani ethnic origin and is the 13th most deprived local authority in England, has also suffered for its place at the centre of racially-influenced violence that flared up 20 years ago.
The Bradford Riots, sparked on 7 July 2001 by the National Front’s announcement of a march through the city, may have only lasted a few days, but the consequences are still being felt. The state’s reaction was severe, with strong political rhetoric and harsh prison sentences - a response that played well to the wider country but did nothing to address the racial tensions felt by the community that had led up to the violence.
How the state’s punitive response to the riots hurt the city
Following the riots, 200 people, many of whom had never been in trouble before, found themselves imprisoned and facing severely reduced employment options on their release. In more recent research, Dr Qasim has been interviewing those caught up in the riots to understand the impact of the sentences on them and their lives, with many struggling to establish themselves following release, facing a disapproving community and with a criminal record barring them from further education or employment.And the riots didn’t just hurt those caught up in them. In addition to the personal cost, the narrative of Bradford as a place of violence served to dis-incentivise investment in the city, leading to a dearth of opportunity, particularly for those from already disadvantaged communities. When opportunities are scarce, the “benefits” of criminal activity can seem all the more appealing, Dr Qasim explains.
So, what needs to be done? While much is made of the need to educate people, Dr Qasim stresses that this cannot be the sole focus of policymakers. “Education has to be tied with opportunity,” he argues. “The message that you become successful by educating yourself is not correct if you have access to education but there are no opportunities following that.”
Create meaningful opportunities or the young will continue to turn to crime
“In so many places up and down the country, especially in Muslim areas, you find educated Muslim men who are working as taxi drivers or working in a warehouse – jobs they are over-educated to do. And then there are those already in prison. If they’re not given the opportunities upon release, what’s likely to happen? Education is key, but it has to be mirrored by other support mechanisms, especially in the community.”This lack of opportunity is not just damaging to those stuck in a cycle of poverty, it also sends a discouraging message to the younger generation, cautions Dr Qasim. “One of the arguments I often heard being made was, ‘Look, so and so went to university and studied for three years and now he's not doing anything with his life. So why should I go to university when I can sell drugs on the streets and make money from that? If I sell drugs, I’ll be able to drive a nice car. And if I make more money than any other drug dealer, I'll be able to drive the best car’," he says.
While there are no easy fixes, Dr Qasim is clear that there needs to be structural change if things are to improve. “The message that institutions need to give is ‘study hard and there is an opportunity at the end to move away from poverty’,” he argues. “But at the moment these opportunities are just not there, particularly for people coming from already stigmatised communities.”
We also need to accept that we cannot imprison our way out of crime, he stresses. “The real issues that made these youths turn to criminality are the reasons why anybody turns to criminality: You're living in deprived communities, your education levels are appalling, job opportunities are limited, a culture of crime starts to escalate in the neighbourhood, your role models become people who are drug dealers. You see that it's easy to become a drug dealer, and it's difficult to find a job.
“My book’s key message is really that we need to tackle the underlying issues which have affected this community for so many years,” he concludes. “Unfortunately, instead of tackling these issues, we are criminalising a generation of young, Muslim men.”
Mohammed Qasim was speaking to Jess Winterstein, Deputy Head of Media Relations at LSE.
No you are comparing 2 entirely different situations. Unlike UK there are no places in Toronto or anywhere else in Canada where a non-white person cannot even go because of racism and threat of violence.
Even the low-income ghetto areas of Toronto like Jane & Finch are a lot safer than those in other western countries
Cpt. Rishwat
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Britain is probably a lot different to Canada then. The low income areas in this country are riddled with crime and violence regardless of ethnic make up. The white areas are no-gos for desis usually, the black areas are no-gos for anyone who's not black basically, and the desi areas are not so much dangerous, but definitely you would risk being robbed.
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As a proud Brit your opinion definitely is among the most esteemed on this topic. Have you faced racism? I suppose not because of your proud Brit heritage?
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Yes I grew up in white areas so I faced different types of racism. In the early days when I lived as a small child in a low income chav area it was in your face. Once I reached primary school we had moved to a nicer area and it was much less. When you get to the posh areas it is not so open, and it's not so obvious, but you see what people really feel more in the news and the way it is presented. But it is surface level only, if you want to you can become a very popular part of any residence if you are prepared to adopt the native culture wholeheartedly. This is where Indians will fare better than someone like me. I like most aspects of Britain, but there are some boundaries for me which I won't cross.
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Interesting to note that. My impression of Indians is that they are too timid by nature and overwilling to blend in even if it means losing their self respect. Don't get me wrong integration is essential and good but no need to bend over backwards to do it.
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I grew up with a lot of white friends so I know their nature inside out. They might have some differences with Pakistanis and Muslims in general but in my opinion they actually respect them more because they hold to their own principles, and that is what English people usually do abroad as well. Indians are maybe not as confident in their own culture so they will generally just adopt English culture wholeheartedly.
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What are these so called 'principles' ? Flesh it out.
Cpt. Rishwat
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There are a few but just one example would be Britains boozing and hook up culture. For Brits that was considered a big part of life, Pakistanis and Muslims in general discourage it as a policy. Obviously plenty will still indulge, but the point is we don't endorse it as a community.
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Racism is present in all communities. Not just whites.
We have to eliminate racism from society.
We have to eliminate racism from society.
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and in contrast .. boozing and hookup culture is endorsed by the Indian community ?
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Yes
Cpt. Rishwat
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They pretend to go along with it although it doesn't really fit their culture. I think white people see through it and prefer Muslims straightforward honesty on these subjects.
I think integration just depends on the socio economic makeup of the immigrant group. Professionals are able to integrate better because they speak the language better, have a higher net income and so are able to live in areas where the native population is also middle class Brits and not just uneducated chavs.
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Drinking is not a 'white' thing to do. A lot of Indians like to drink, whether it is in the subcontinent or in the UK. They don't have weird religious hang-ups about it like you or many muslims do.
I detect some sense of envy here. Maybe try another religion and remove that straitjacket ?
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No, it isn't.
It's a bit like how smoking is viewed. Everyone knows it is not advisable but young people do it anyway. The youth of every culture are adventurous.
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There is no need to have envy here, everyone is free to do whatever they want. Many of the Pakistanis involved in the grooming gangs were plying alcohol on the girls, and I can guarantee they were drinking themselves as well.
I don't know why you pressed on what the principles were if you are going to get annoyed about the answers. I am not here to tell white people how to behave, they are free to believe whatever they like in their own country.
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I am not annoyed at all. You gave a lame answer and I called you out for it
You've mentioned umpteen times that Pakistanis unlike India, don't bend over backwards for white people and I never get a proper answer when I ask you to prove it. All I get in reply is .. booze.
Which is funny because there are several Indian states that are absolutely addicted to alcohol. It's become such a problem that local govts have tried to ban it.
BBC News - Kerala's love affair with alcohol
news.bbc.co.uk
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Indians tend to be submissive. We see that also with @Devadwal @Sachin fan @uppercut @Rajdeep when confronted. The fighting spirit and pride is lacking in my view.
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lol, there is no hang up, its harmful to ones body which is why most of the world doesnt drink alcohol.
Not all but a large proportion of Indians who settle in the west, copy western culture to fit in, its insecurity.
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THREAD IS ABOUT RACISM.
STAY ON TOPIC OR LEAVE
STAY ON TOPIC OR LEAVE
LMAO this is not true at all. Pakistanis and muslims in general are hated the most, not only in Britain but all around the world. They are looked upon as rigid and mideval mindset not fit for 21st century western world which you are mistaking it principle. You are so delusional....pffff.
Also who told you Indians are not confident of their culture. Were they your friends from Bradford?
Diwali is now a national holiday in United States and one of the biggest festival in Britain. Diwali lights go up 10 Downing street every year. Holi is celebrated all over UK....I have seen more holi celebration in UK than in Bangalore as it is mostly considered north Indian festival. Have you seen Hare Rama Hare Krishna in Piccadily circus and oxford streets? The only thing Indians dont do is force their religion and culture on others by brainwashing and/or by force.
When you stay abroad, you cant take your pind with you there. Few days ago when an Indian lady caught eating with her hands in tube, I was disgusted. She was following her culture according to your logic. If you are abroad, you should embrace their culture and respect it without forgetting your own roots.
People often drink socially here as a part of culture. Not many drinks like a bewda and fall down in gutter. Even many client meetings happen over a pint of beer or glass of champagne. It is a cultural thing in Britain. So there is no harm if Indians are doing it as well. It is called embracing a beautiful culture.
Many other things are harmful too - smoking, drinking fizzy drinks, weed, eating oily foods etc etc. Do you know a pint of beer is much healthier than a can of coca cola?
And if you have so much issue with western culture, why stay here? You should go to Saudi Arabia or somewhere where people like your mindset lives. That will be logical thing to do na?
Problem with Sub continental muslims is, they live in western world for better life style, health care, liberty etc which they know they will not get in any muslim country but wants to just stick to their culture. Then when they see their fellow brown skin neighbours assimilating and trying to adopt wester culture, they get all jealous and accuse them of trying to fit it. It is a case of pure jealously...nothing else.
There are two kinds of racists in the UK. One is the aware Tommy Robinson and BNP types - they hate both Muslims and Indians (hindus) for different reasons but they hate both and are generally in a minority
The second type of racism is more widespread. Its the middle england distaste for anyone who doesnt look like them. There are a lot of brits like that. You would never know because they are polite and are not vocal about it IRL but they dont like "their" country having too many people who dont look or speak like them. This group doesnt really like the eastern european immigrants either.
The second type of racism is more widespread. Its the middle england distaste for anyone who doesnt look like them. There are a lot of brits like that. You would never know because they are polite and are not vocal about it IRL but they dont like "their" country having too many people who dont look or speak like them. This group doesnt really like the eastern european immigrants either.
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lol. Funny post.
1. Alcohol was found to be the most destructive intoxicant after a UK government report.
Alcohol 'more harmful than heroin' says Prof David Nutt
Alcohol is more harmful than heroin or crack based on the overall dangers to the individual and society as a whole, according to a report co-authored by the UK's former chief drugs adviser Professor David Nutt.
www.bbc.co.uk
2. You clearly have no idea of UK culture. Its not Hindutva India, here you can live freely as you wish. There is no law to conform to anyone elses culture.
You are a perfect example of wannabees.
This is the ticket that Trump, Reform, and Elon Musk win elections with. Hindus like Rajdeep are spreading this as much as they can across social media. Whilst Muslims are hated for their religion predominantly, Indians are hated for both their religion and culture. But religion is more important for Muslims so they tend not to yield unlike Indians who are too submissive. Worked with many, they lack a backbone and often need others to back them up.
Racism in Bradford owes a lot to the housing policies of the council and Asians buying properties close to other Asians. When I worked in the Home Office, the migrants were given hostels and addresses in these areas. The white people couldn’t and cannot live with them so they move out due to a difference in culture. The outskirts are filled with white towns and villages. Segregation leads to division.
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I am not annoyed at all. You gave a lame answer and I called you out for it
You've mentioned umpteen times that Pakistanis unlike India, don't bend over backwards for white people and I never get a proper answer when I ask you to prove it. All I get in reply is .. booze.
Which is funny because there are several Indian states that are absolutely addicted to alcohol. It's become such a problem that local govts have tried to ban it.
BBC News - Kerala's love affair with alcohol
I can go into more detail on different aspects if you want but I only threw booze and hook up culture as examples to try and answer your question. If you want a proper answer then ask a proper question on any specific point and I am happy to explain further.
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This is typical of desi immigrant ignorance to be honest. It is quite telling that you talk about celebrations of holi celebrations and Diwali abroad like it is celebrated by all people of every hue. Sorry fella but like your rockstar Modi concerts at Wembley or Bollywood theatres, they are all packed with 99% Indians. The locals don't give a toss.
You are mistaking British politeness at business events with what people really think outside of work. How would you even know? Most of their inside jokes would fly right over your nodding head.
Can you show me some examples of posts that you think are submissive ?
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I don't think he was talking about keyboard warriors, in which field Indians are undoubtedly world superpower status.
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