Beech House
C/O Community Action Network
28-30 Wimborne Road
Poole
BH15 2BU
01202 392954
Email: enquiries@dorsetrec.org.uk
August 2024Trustees of Dorset REC consider it important to issue a statement about the violence and unrest caused by the mobilisation of far-right, anti-migrant extremists calling for the deportation and harming of migrants. Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset have seen limited overt response to the calls on social media, other than a protest in Weymouth on Sunday 4th August. This was without doubt linked to the presence of the Bibby Stockholm in Dorset which drew anti-migrant protests and pro-migrant counter-protests.
Those inciting the violence appear to be driven by racist views and ideology that do not represent the majority of people. The rallies and actions are discriminatory and undermine community harmony and cohesion. Their actions promoting hatred and division prevent dispassionate debate about immigration and our responsibilities as human beings towards one another.
We at Dorset REC stand for a fair, prejudice free, tolerant and kind society where differences are valued and unite. We denounce the deliberate, evil, racialised and religious misinformation that gives rise to Islamophobia (as in these riots) and antisemitism. We call for politicians, public figures and social media to turn away from feeding the narrative of division and hostility to outsiders and the rhetoric that sustains structural and systemic racism.
We applaud the generous and kind response of communities to the attacks on shops, hotels and mosques that points the way to a more caring and compassionate society.
And finally, if anyone experiences or sees a hate crime they can report this to the police, seek support from victim support (0300 3030 163) or contact Tell MAMA for specific support.