30.06.16
Amnesty International urges councils to condemn racism following EU referendum result
Following reports of a rise in hate crimes following the UK’s vote to leave the EU, Amnesty International has urged local councils to make a commitment to condemn racism in their area.
Initial police findings suggest that the rate of reported hate crimes was 57% greater in the four days following last week’s referendum than in the same period four weeks before.
High-profile incidents have included racist graffiti being found on the doors of the Polish Social and Cultural Centre (POSK) in Hammersmith on Sunday, and three youths shouting racist abuse at a man on a tram in Manchester on Tuesday.
Kate Allen, UK director of human rights charity Amnesty International, said: “The last few weeks have opened a Pandora’s Box with people feeling able to say and do vile racist things without shame.”
Amnesty International is now encouraging its supporters to write to their local councillors, asking them to publicly condemn racism and xenophobia and table a motion promising that local bodies and programmes will have the support and resources needed to fight them.
The charity wants every council in the UK to condemn racism.
In a speech to the House of Commons on Monday, David Cameron said: “Let’s remember these people have come here and made a wonderful contribution to our country. We will not stand for hate crime or these kinds of attacks, they must be stamped out.”
(Image c. Amnesty International)