JohnAfter the disturbances of Thursday night, Friday passed without incident following a day of community meetings.
Friday was a day of meetings as community leaders from all backgrounds met together and with authorities to calm the situation and ensure there would be no repeat of the disorder.
Harehills councillor Mothin Ali said crowds gathered last night (Friday) in demonstration and held prayers. He and other community activists and police were present around Harehills when a gathering of “around 100 people” formed. He said that it was mostly families and that there was “a lot of praying and singing”.
He posted on social media: “Out with local community members and Leeds youth services, keeping the situation in Harehills calm and safe. Engaging with members from all communities to provide reassurance.”
Cllr Salma Arif posted: “Finally home after a long day in Harehills. Today I was in continuous conversation with residents, police, council, youth services and community leaders. No repeat of yesterday’s disturbance which is what we set out to achieve early this morning.”
Leeds East MP Richard Burgon said: “One of my meetings in Harehills today was with one of the young people from the local Roma community who, alongside people from other communities last [Thursday] night, helped to persuade other young people to stay away from the serious incidents. One of many unsung local heroes.
“I’ve just got home after an evening with residents in Harehills including with young people at Catch Leeds, packed with young people engaged in activities, singing songs, playing games and more. Always an uplifting place exemplifying the best of our community.”
One local resident told East Side Story: “I was there last night till around midnight talking to people, and the crowd was praying. Ladies whom I spoke to hugged me, and someone went and bought drinks and water for us.”
Local blog Love Harehills, which highlights some of the positive things happening in the area, posted: “Last night’s events shook our neighborhood. A spark of anger, fueled by a family’s pain, ignited a chain reaction of destruction. It was a frightening night for many. But amidst the chaos, something truly remarkable happened.
“Harehills rose.
“We didn’t stand by and watch as outside forces tried to control the situation. We came together as a community, de-escalating the tension, calming the flames, and quite literally putting our neighborhood back together. It’s easy for the news and social media to focus on the negativity, to spin narratives of blame and division. But those who live and breathe Harehills know the truth.
“This isn’t a story about “multiculturalism gone wrong.” It’s a story about community strength in the face of adversity. It’s about neighbors looking out for neighbours. It’s about acknowledging that while challenges exist, they don’t define us.”
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