Riots causing me (Muslim female) anxiety.

[Mavan1984]

I am a Muslim hijab wearing woman (born and brought up in this country). I have 3 kids under the age of 16 and the riots are causing me a great deal of anxiety. Me and dh had planned to take the kids out this weekend but we cancelled because we didn't think it was safe. I feel like we are better off just staying at home throughout the summer to protect ourselves and the kids.

I have had racist comments made at me before, but I don't want my kids to experience this. I feel like the rioting will empower others to be openly racist. I experienced this when 9/11 happened and I am just so scared because this time it feels a lot worse.

Me and dh were born to immigrant parents who worked very hard in menial jobs to educate us. We both have professional careers, but at this moment in time I feel like none of this matters and we are being attacked. Will it get any better? How can I protect my family?

A lot of my Muslim friends are feeling the same and it feels as though we have a very bleak future in this country.

Is it really? Be honest, because I'm getting the feeling you are you actually revelling in the misinformation surrounding it that's fired up the racists.

I am so sorry, sending strength to you and your family.

I think you are onto something here. Let's wait for the poster to explain themselves.

I am so sorry OP. My heart goes out to you and others affected by this mindless violence.
It is almost beyond belief these brain-washed thugs are desecrating the memory of murdered girls to excuse their violence.

Very sorry OP, I’m from Southport though not lived there for many years and I know the vast majority are so saddened by the recent racism fuelled disorder.

Every single person rioting is a mindless, racist, arsehole. I hope they all get injured and sent to prison.

Please, please OP don't be concerned about what these amoeba think of you on a personal level. They don't deserve one second of your concern.

I am really sorry for every single person put at risk by these racist thugs and I'm sure the vast majority of non-Muslim people feel the same way. I know it doesn't help your immediate concerns for safely, just know that we are on your side.

I am sorry you feel so anxious OP. It’s horrible that you and your family feel so unsafe, and so unfair. I really hope you are able to stay safe and find some peace.

I'm so sorry and sad for you. Please know that most people are appalled by these riots and they most certainly don't represent how we feel.
I live in Leeds and at the protest yesterday, the anti-racists out numbered the racists by about 4:1. I hear its been the same in several cities, including Nottingham and Sheffield.
There's a group called Stand up to Racism who are organising counter protests every time there's a right wing protest. You can follow them in Facebook or Twitter. I found it reassuring to see a community of people who are trying to counteract this fascism. I'm going to go to all the counter protests I can because I saw yesterday in Leeds that we could overpower them in numbers and volume. The racists retreated in humiliation. This wouldn't have happened if there'd only been a few anti racism protesters. The huge numbers opposing the racists sent a very powerful message that they would not be tolerated, that we don't want them on our streets.
I'm hoping the recent events will turn the tide. Most people are disgusted and the right wing minority won't have the backing or sympathy of the British public.
I wonder if you might feel better if you went out? Yesterday in Leeds, even during the protests, the city was full of black and Asian people, many women in hijabs, all enjoying the sunshine and getting on with life. This also sent a powerful message to the thugs.
I'm so sad to think of you and others living in fear. I'm white so haven't experienced it but my husband is Indian and my children are mixed race. I'm concerned fur everyone who feels under threat.

Can you clarify what you mean by this?
You seem to be somehow linking the tragic murder of 3 children by a Welsh youth to Islamaphobia

I would suggest joining with your local mosque and Christian churches to provide safe passage for your community as they go about their business. Many religions band together to support each other in times of crisis. Best wishes to you and your family. 💐

But attitudes like these calling the rioters mindless idots mean that it won't just pass.

These working class people are fed up of having asylum seekers put in their towns.

Why should this happen when they don't want it?

This is why the poor OP and all other non-white people are so frightened. It is the politicians's faults for just thinking that the white working class will just put up with it. They won't.

What other choice do they have except to riot when no-one is listening to their concerns? If they protested peacefully, then everyone would just ignore them.

I know how you feel. I'm from an Irish Catholic background and grew up in a time when there was a lot of anti Irish feeling, thanks to the IRA. Fortunately most people weren't like that and as time went on, things did improve. I hope things get better for you x

What a hateful situation. I really hope things improve soon.

I'm so sorry, OP.
Solidarity.

It’s actually sensible to be a bit worried- I warned my (white British) son to stay clear of the town centre, too.

They are small minded thugs and I have no time for them.

I think immigration and integration needs to be considered in sensitive caring discussion, so that people who feel threatened get the opportunity to feel heard and have their concerns addressed.

There’s no excuse for racism, and I’ve seen some awful examples of it online recently - not in real life, fortunately.

I’m really sorry, OP, and hope your home area returns to peace and calm soon. 💐

Thank you all for your lovely, kind messages, some of which have moved me to tears.

I'm not even sure why I made this post but I just wanted to tell someone how I was feeling. I've been cooped up at home all weekend reading the news, which has really messed with my emotions.

Also this isn't just what Muslims are feeling, I have black, Hindu and Sikh friends too who have had racist/islamophobic abuse hurled at them before, because they've been wrongly identified as Muslim. They are also feeling very unsafe right now.

They are mindless idiots and don't represent the majority of WC people. And excusing the rioting makes you as bad as the far right bigots.

I am so sorry you are feeling so frightened in your own country. It’s shameful that things have come to this. Please know however that the vast majority of people do not support these riots - we cannot let this small, vocal group of idiots set the agenda.

I am not excusing them (I am brown myself so am as scared as the OP is).

But these people are fed up of people not listening to them and I don't blame them.

It breaks my heart that these fascist thugs have made you feel this way OP. You're right to be anxious. It's bloody terrifying. However, I'm clinging on to the hope/belief that these louts are a tiny minority and most people are peaceful and kind.

*These working class people are fed up of having asylum seekers put in their towns.

Why should this happen when they don't want it?*

But why are they fed up of it? Asylum seekers can’t work, so it can’t be “they’re stealing our jobs”. They are housed in fairly shitty temp accommodation (certainly speaking for Stoke, they are not housed in hotels that people would be racing to book for their holidays) so it can’t be “they’re stealing our homes”. It can’t be about how they treat women, because rates of violence against women and girls in areas like Stoke are through the roof, perpetrated by our very own working class (and others). It can’t be because they’re hanging around on the streets with nothing to do, while getting “free money”, because levels of generational worklessness among the white British population in these areas is also very high. So other than it being the colour of the asylum seekers’ skin, what is it?

You don't blame them for smashing up peoples cities and towns?

They are mindless idiots though.

I haven't heard a coherent thought from one of them.

How many have written to their MPs with their concerns or started a petition maybe? Or even just done some research and gained some understanding into the whole situation? I would put money on none of them having done that.

The minute they get the green light to meet up with other like minded idiots, get a case of cider and "Take our country back" by trashing a ShoeZone and a Greggs (and many other shops) and chucking stuff at police they are right there.

I've heard dozens of them saying it's about the girls who were murdered. Aside from the fact the guy was born in Cardiff and not a Muslim, one of the girls Mums has asked all this to stop, they are making the families grief even worse because this is supposedly being done in the name of their children.

Selfish, stupid racist idiots who are trashing the very country they want to "take back".

If you think this is acceptable then you're just as bad.

Op, I'm so sorry, I understand your feelings and they are absolutely valid 💐

I don't know but they don't want them in their town. Why does it matter why?.

Are you joking? Written to MPs????

No-one is listening to them that is why they are rioting.

Btw, I am brown so I am as scared as the OP is.