Racial Tension
Understandably I’m now getting a lot of reports of racial tension connected to the deaths of the Pakistani guys last night on Dudley Rd. Every kind of report you can possibly imagine in my Tumblr inbox, but the common theme is that the Asian community are incensed and want revenge and that there’s a strong possibility of gangs coming to Birmingham from other cities like Leicester and Manchester in response to the deaths last night.
I’m fearful because this racial tension isn’t new - but this has undoubtedly exacerbated it. Some of you might remember the riots we had in Handsworth and Lozells a few years ago, where it was alleged that Asian guys had attacked a young black girl after she was caught shoplifting. It kicked off and there were deaths then too. As it turned out, when everything calmed down, the original story appeared to be nothing more than a rumor and nobody seemed quite sure that it had happened.
The Gandhi quote about “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” is so cliche at this point (although still relevant) that I feel many don’t even stop to really think about it. So allow me to quote one of my favorite authors, Ken Kesey who presents the same idea in a starker and more direct way:
“The man who seeks revenge digs two graves”
To all reading this - no matter your motive, original rioters/looters, anti rioters/looters protecting the area, gangs seeking revenge, proud brummies trying to defend our city, and even police - VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER. All different factions getting caught in a big mob mess isn’t going to help anything. Innocent people will get hurt and the whole situation will escalate. Where’s the community leaders? Not the self-important, self-appointed busybodies claiming to speak on behalf of the people, I mean the REAL community leaders who ARE actually in touch with all the people in the community on a grassroots level. Where are the gang leaders? You have a responsibility to try and calm this! It’s gone on long enough!
Look, I can’t predict what’s going to happen tonight, but I’ve lived here in the inner city long enough to know that right now we’re on the brink of something potentially a lot more serious than anything we’ve seen so far. Please, calm yourselves. After all this is over, we ALL have to pick up the pieces, including you - the ones responsible for it.
With reports of the EDL also travelling to Birmingham, and idiot racists like Nick Griffin using the situation to his advantage, now by continuing to cause trouble you are simply giving them what they want and worsening your own situation.
Please, just stop, take a few minutes and look at the bigger picture here. That’s all I’m asking.
Peace….literally
