Successful prosecution in Rugby
A 56-year old defendant from Rugby has been sentenced for racially abusing two people including a police officer.
Read more...Following the very successful #WeStandTogether events organised by EQuIP back in 2016, further events are planned to take place across Warwickshire later in the year (Likley to be September 2019 - but exact dates to be confirmed).
The need to develop further #WeStandTogether events stems from all the incidents surrounding terrorism, hate crime and racism that have occurred in recent times. Incidents of this nature can cause social tension and division within communities. Incidents of this nature can also help bring people together and they can strengthen communities due to people sharing the same objective and standing strong in their fight against hate and terrorism.
The BBC highlighted in a recent article that islamophobia has become the driving force behind the rise of far-right movements in the UK, according to an anti-racism charity.
Hope Not Hate says anti-Muslim prejudice has replaced immigration as the "key driver" of the groups.
A report from the charity carries a poll suggesting 35% third of Britons thought Islam was "generally a threat to the British way of life". This compares with 30% who thought it was compatible.
The ‘State of Hate’ report blames the 2017 terror attacks in London and Manchester for a "lasting negative impact" on attitudes towards Muslims.
It says while the number of people arrested over terror-related offences in 2018 was down on the previous year, the UK was witnessing a growing threat of far-right terrorism.
The report refers to the threat of lone-wolf terrorists and right-wing extremists, who are getting radicalised over the internet.
It said the far right has become more extreme, younger and is successfully tapping into the "political rage" felt by many in society.
Mansoor Clarke, an Imam at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in south London, says Hope Not Hate's report was "worrying" and shows increasing division in society.
"As a white-British Muslim I feel conflicted," he added.
"How do you define being British? I would say its being tolerant, truthful, polite... those sort of things."
Exploiting Brexit
The Hope Not Hate poll conducted in July 2018, found 49% of those who voted Conservative in the 2017 general election thought Islam was generally a threat to the British way of life, compared with 21% who said it was compatible.
Among Labour voters, 22% said Islam was generally a threat, and 43% thought it compatible.
The report says the Conservative government should do more to challenge the negative view of its voters.
It said there was a "very real" left wing anti-Semitism problem among a "small but very vocal group" of people. A larger group is said to be engaged in "conspiratorial anti-Semitism" on social media, although overt anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial is uncommon.
The row within the Labour Party over anti-Semitism is also highlighted in the report.
Hope Not Hate suggested that the far-right could exploit Brexit, stating: "Divisions within Britain are likely to increase and this will further split communities and boost the far-right's populist anti-politics message".
During difficult times where communities are divided, it is important to remind people that multiple agencies are working hard to prevent and address any social tensions that exsist.
EQuIP Equality, a Warwickshire based charity are fully aware of the social tensions that can emerge as a result of terrorism and right wing activity. There has been a year-on-year increase in hate crime in Warwickshire since 2012/13 and there has been a significant increase since the EU Referendum in 2016.
As a way of supporting the Warwickshire community, there was a huge need to create a platform where community members could voice any concerns and provide them with an opportunity to report hate related issues that may exist within their community.
EQuIP worked closely with Warwickshire Police to develop #WeStandTogether events across Warwickshire back in 2016 and this was an ideal opportunity for the police and other supporting organisations to remind the community that there is support available for people.
The clear message is that hate crime and right wing activity is not acceptable in our society.
Warwickshire Police who played a key role in enabling EQuIP to develop the initial #WeStandTogether events in 2016, are keen to support the events later in the year. Warwickshire County Council Community Safety team, staff from the Warwickshire Office for Police and Crime Commissioner and various other organisations will be involved in the events.
Further details regarding the #WeStandTogether events will be published in the coming weeks. If you wish to be contacted with an update regarding these events, please let them know by emailing: advice@equipequaality.org.uk or call EQuIP on 01788 863117.