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.

No, because no-one is listening to them. What are they supposed to do to get people to listen???

Well, because you’re saying they’re not happy people aren’t listening to their concerns - but unless they can articulate those concerns (without throwing shit and setting things on fire), what are politicians supposed to be listening to?

What is your journey to work?

How can they be listened to when they don't write to the people who will listen?

I've seen you defend these racists a few times on MN lately. Pretty weird behaviour for someone who is scared.

I am so sorry op, we are not all like these vile creatures causing the riots but l can see how intimidated you must feel.

They don't want asylum seekers in their town. What else do they need to say?

I predicted this would happen 20 years ago if our policians did not do anything about immigration and asylum seekers.

And they did not. But I can't really complain because I was not prepared to become an MP.

Anyway, what I knew would happen has happened and people like me and the OP will be the ones who suffer. The white politicians and their children wont' be abused. They will be fine.

I could muster some sympathy if one of the rioters said “My child goes to a school near to an asylum hotel and the school has had to take an extra 40 pupils in at short notice. My child has lost their 1-1 TA because they have been redirected to assist in settling in these new children who don’t speak English and are in some cases traumatised by their experiences. I’ve really struggled to pay for my kids’ uniform this year but the local asylum charity paid for uniform for all those children and that doesn’t feel very fair.”

Then I would absolutely expect the local councillors, officers, MPs and and Home Office to say, “you have a point - here’s the additional funding/support we are giving the school to ensure existing pupils have not been disadvantaged and here’s where you can get some support yourself for your children’s uniform and here’s what we’re doing to support these families to integrate into the school and local community”.

But I've not seen any of the protestors articulating what their concerns are beyond “send them back”.

@Mavan1984 i’m so sorry you’re afraid, it’s totally understandable. You wouldn’t know if you saw me (middle aged white woman) or millions like me in the street but I wish only good things for you and your family. I hope you find comfort in your friends and that this settles down soon.

Listening to them about what? What is it they want?

They don't want asylum seekers in their towns. Why should they have them if they dont' want them???

Did you listen to Darren the doorman on LBC op? It’s on YouTube I’d really recommend it. This man represents the majority of people not those racist thugs

The culture wars around migrants and widespread Islamophobia in politics and the media has fuelled this and now shamefully you are bearing the consequences. I am so sorry and wish it were different. I do hope that the rise of far right extremism will force the government to face up to the issue of Islamophobia in this country, in my opinion they have been part of the problem, and now need to be part of the solution. Solidarity to you and to the Muslim community in the Uk and abroad who are having to deal with so much injustice

Correction* they don’t want black and Muslim people in their towns. It is not confined to asylum seekers. They’re targeting Mosques and specific shops deliberately. The OP doesn’t feel safe because of this and it’s an utter disgrace.

We'll want if sone people in the town want them and sone don't

Why should the rioters opinion get preference over the greater majority of people ?

I can only imagine how frightening it must make you feel.
Please don’t think that these protesters speak for the everyone because they don’t.
The protesters are a minority not a majority.
Hold your head up high, you are as British as the one’s protesting x

I am so sorry, Mavan, it makes me feel ashamed.

This will die down but some of these rioters are hard-wired, they are not great thinkers and don't even listen to other points of view. However the mindless vandalism and violence will stop and you'll be able to breath again.

You are a British woman and the law is on your side, never forget that. You've achieved much, unlike those mindless thugs, and can be proud of yourself, also of your parents for working so hard and supporting you well. Walk tall.

Because we live in a society that takes the needs of the many into account rather than the racism of a few.

They are throwing their toys out of their pram because they aren't getting their own way, despite doing precisely nothing about it.

Why are you defending these people?

You say you're not white, if a couple of people on your street knocked on your door and said they don't want you there because your skin colour made them uncomfortable would you just say "fair enough" and move?

I'm so sorry you feel like this. They don't speak for most of us.

They should've voted then.

I don't feel safe either because I am brown, like the OP.

But ignoring the wishes of the white working class was always going to cause the issues that is now causing.

It has been obvious to me for the last 20 years. Why was it not obvious to our politicians?

They probably did vote Reform. What point are you making?

I am defending these people because I want our white politicians to listen to them so that they don't become racist.

Most of these people (obviously not the EDL members) are not racist. They are just fed up of being ignored.

They are ordinary decent people.

I have to agree with this, the coalition government came in knowing this and explicitly stating it and then just ignored it. You really can’t keep ignoring it year on year. It’s about trust, if you as a party want high migration or to place more asylum seekers be honest and upfront about it and provide your rationale.

I’m also brown, none of what is going on makes me happy at all. But I think theres also a danger of going “pft it’s just racists ignore them, lets carry on with high migration” Thats how you get a reform government. But equally giving in isn’t great either, “riot and we’ll do what you want”.

Op you aren’t alone, many of us are worried.