After the Harehills riots: Beyond the Rage and other emotions

Reflections on the recent riots in Harehills, by Mohammed Aslam, Harehills resident and Heritage researcher

I’m angry, disappointed and emotionally exhausted from the events of  last few weeks .
However, I’m equally grateful and hopeful, after many neighbours, friends and even strangers reached out in solidarity and good faith.

The fear of opening the phone to misinformation, negative stereotypes of the area, racial assumptions was replaced by an equal number of personal messages of love and kindness. Let’s not forget, volunteers pulled together on the night of the riots to safeguard and deescalate the crowds. Locals filled the buckets as young lads put out the fires, protected industrial bins and protected businesses.

The following day, volunteers helped with the clean-up, and the process of rebuilding begun .Every evening after  vigils took place in the Bellbrooks with song and prayers of togetherness.  Locals continued to monitor and stand guard over the crowds in both solidarity and care.
There are many quiet hero’s battling the onslaught and hate our area has received which for us is home . 

The troubles of being a British Muslim have walked alongside me since I was a boy, so these recent moments are but another painful reminder that it’s easy to hate me .
My grandparents came to the UK in the 1960s, the children of the partition and victims of a lot of intimidation, abuse and othering as they worked hard to make a living and raise their families. My grandma use to carry a crowbar when managing her market stall, out of fear.
My uncles were forever getting jumped and attacked on the way from school or Arabic classes as children. Mum told me stories of the National front  in the 70s/80s and now more than ever do those stories come feel like they are coming to life .

Despite our strong emotions, I recognise that poverty, illiteracy, safeguarding concerns and elitist political manipulation all come together to create cauldron of fear and disliking for the “other ” in recent events in Harehills

By shouting and generalising, everyone who is with the patriotic movement being made to feel like extremists is as problematic as generalising all Muslims or refugees. It only causes the many in the middle to move closer or further from you and into the hands of those projecting their divisive rhetoric. Political parties blaming of asylum seekers and refugees for under resourced communities is something we’ve seen replicated across Europe and beyond

It was a blessing to invite faith leaders and friends to come visit Harehills, so soon after the riots. Regardless of the assumptions, these faith leaders walked in our shoes and listened as we explored the Jewish cemetery and current location of the East European Tailors along Hudson Road, the Windrush graves and sites of old warehouses and factories that remind us of our industrial past, often worked in by those invited from the Caribbean, sub continent in the 1950s and 60s. Heritage has been my healing tool . Our area is a patchwork of stories of hardworking generations of migrant success stories for the city to celebrate .

The counter anti racist protests, the words of love and positive activism from so many people, gives me something to feel grateful about. And there is much to do to tackle poverty, ensure there are adequate resources to support community services, and create opportunities for people to have honest conversations .

We need to explore the elephants in the room; growing youth violence, bad social housing, rising inflation which doesn’t match current incomes, serious media bias and slow responses to curtail hate within representative chambers – otherwise how can we move forward ?

I won’t be intimidated for believing in my own  values, beliefs and vision . And neither should the rest of the community. I believe compassion, honesty and active listening & dialoguing are the way forward. I pray this summer of riots will end soon, and we can continue the best of British traditions of standing together and getting creative as we maximise our short season of warmth.

I’m just desirous for structural change and public appreciation for the people and places that define who I am.  I just need a safe and welcoming area for my hardworking Mum to go grey gracefully and feel comfortable in.

Despite the setbacks, the deceit and immaturity of some, I promise not to give up, and ask that you don’t too