No one should be the victim of violence or vile taunts
BY SADIQ KHAN, MAYOR OF LONDON GREAT Britain has a long and rich tradition of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
These rights are fundamental – not only to our democracy and to our success as a country, but to who we are as proud Brits.
As the Mayor of London, I will always work to uphold these values and ensure everyone can express their views freely. But there is never any excuse for violence.
Sadly, this is exactly what we saw from extremist members of the far-right involved in the Free Tommy Robinson and pro-Trump protests last weekend.
A number of protesters allegedly launched an unprovoked attack on antifascist activists, leaving one trade unionist bloodied and needing stitches.
Other far-right extremists hurled insults and abuse at a Muslim woman bus driver.
Her brave and dignified response in the face of appalling prejudice was inspiring – and she deserves all the praise she’s received for remaining so calm and composed.
But no one should be the victim of violence or vile taunts, especially not those who staff our public services and contribute so much to our country. And yet, depressingly, it’s clear racist thugs are feeling increasingly emboldened, with hate crime on the rise across the country.
At a time when the far-right is gaining strength around the world, this is deeply alarming and must serve as an urgent wake-up call.
The disgusting behaviour of some far-right Free Tommy supporters runs completely contrary to the British values we hold dear. Values British servicemen and women have fought and died for.
I praise the Daily Mirror’s partnership with the National No2H8 Awards, established to help tackle hatred and prejudice.
As a new report on hate crime published this week by HMICFRS makes clear, it is particularly distressing to be a victim of crime because of who you are or what you believe.
So now is the time for proud Brits – of all faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds – to come together to stand up for our cherished values, and to stand up against the cowardly individuals who seek to divide us.
#LondonIsOpen