May I post here re the current riots? I'm scared.

[IncompleteSenten]

I am white and my husband is black. We have 2 sons. My eldest son is at uni in Sheffield and I am frightened. I've pleaded with him to work from home rather than use the uni library right now.

I know if I post in the main mumsnet section I'll be told I'm ridiculous, people aren't racist, the UK doesn't have a problem, blah blah blah but I'm NOT. People ARE and the UK HAS!

I feel that my family is less safe here than I ever thought possible and me and my husband don't know what best to say to our children.

I would just like to say to any other white people who might read this, if you want to post to tell me that it's not a problem and I'm seeing things that aren't there and my sons are safe etc, don't bother. I don't want to hear white denial of racism and threats, I really don't and if that sounds aggressive, that's just tough.

Another gaslighter

Hi OP I’m brown and my anxiety is through the roof at the moment. I know there are good people out there but I’m so scared for my kids.

I have been genuinely shocked to realise just how many posters on mn have, for want of a better way of putting it, 'hidden' racist/bigoted views.

all of the posts about how they understand why people are rioting protesting and this innocently worded 'worry' about housing, about the NHS, and of course .worry' about what the UK can and can't afford but all of those 'worries' being voiced in reference to people of colour made me truly realise that you only need to lightly scratch the surface of many people to reveal something pretty disturbing.

The last thing I want to do here is to have created a thread that has brought racism and distress to the black mumsnetters section, please do say and I will ask mn to move it to 30 days or something or if you don't want to say it please report this post and mn can see that that is what I want if my post is causing upset to the people this space is actually intended for.

Also, I don’t think the “protestors” would stop for a friendly chat about immigration and living standards if they met my brown family (especially my teen boys) on the street so I think i am entitled to be worries and cautious.

You are right. They are what they seem. I would be careful with your son being out and about. Young men will be a target for some of them. The police will present a challenge. Eventually these sorts try and pick on an easier target.

No please don't move it .. I've been so relieved to find somewhere to discuss my concerns for my mixed race family x

Same here tbh, my partner is also Kenyan, although we have no children.

im also thinking that we should up and leave and try to build a life over there - there’s a farm, plenty land, family. But he doesn’t want to, and I am petrified that one day he will come to harm here.

I just saw this
https://metro.co.uk/2024/08/05/rioters-set-race-checkpoint-ask-drivers-white-english-21360645/
Thugs stopping cars to check the occupants colour and nationality.

Jesus Christ what the fuck is happening.
I'm even more convinced England is not a safe place for my family.

I have been genuinely shocked to realise just how many posters on mn have, for want of a better way of putting it, 'hidden' racist/bigoted views.

Anyone who is justifying these thugs’ actions or trying to compare it to other protests or ‘whataboutery’ are racist themselves.

How can anyone say this is about immigration when this was apparently triggered by the murder of 3 girls (by a Welsh person) and these thugs are attacking police and paramedics, breaking in and looting local business, attacking people on the street, setting fires to hotels, damaging people’s homes and property and showing the nazi salute/symbol (which their parents/grandparents gave their lives to fight against).

These men rioting should be ashamed of themselves but so should anyone even attempting to defend them.

No, it is good that you have highlighted the fact that white mothers, and fathers of mixed children will be facing these difficulties as well. Here people will not minimise or tell you that your fears are imagined, or unfounded, well, bar the odd poster. You need support too.

Amazing and heartening to see Stand Up to Racism in Plymouth . Great to see decent and kind people taking to the streets to peacefully protest

Seriously look into it.

Especially because if you get too ill to look after the youngest especially social services won't do anything until it's an emergency. I watched a former neighbour fight to get care for his autistic son. He got it in the end but it made him very ill.

OP I’m so sorry, yes I was reading both threads & posted on the wrong one! In my defence I have had quite a lot of oxycodone today! But I think it’s terrible that you as a family are having to worry about this.

Thank you for this thread. Another white mother of mixed children here, feeling anxious. I'm afraid to let my teenage daughter meet a friend in town tomorrow morning. Sending solidarity to those who need it.

So sorry you have been made to feel like this. I can't understand why people can be like this. Keep safe xxx

The thing to remember is that these right wing thugs are in a minority, but I'd not want to be around when these feral louts attacked my street - any more than I'd want to be set upon by rabid dogs.

Scarier still though, are those are those trying to justify their criminal conduct by saying 'no one is listening to them' and that they are protesting for jobs, housing etc etc. Bullshit! That is not what they are doing at all. They are nazis - brutal hooligans who haven't got an ounce of compassion for anybody. They see anybody who is not white as their enemy and have vomited all over the memory of those three murdered little girls and their families. I don't want to listen to mindless racist lawless thugs. I'd rather they were packed off to Rwanda (sorry Rwanda) than all migrants, legal or illegal!

These morons have the same right as everybody else to express their views through the ballot box. They have no right to terrorise neighbourhoods.

These yobs wouldn't know an honest days work if it knocked on their door! They are able to zoom around the country in the working week trying to kill fellow citizens, the police, fire crews while looting people's businesses and burning other people's cars and places of worship. Are they even employable? I'd not want to work with them or live near them.

Please don't tell me I need to listen to the mindless rantings of rent a thug who have been dog whistled into action by Farage and Trump conspiracy theorists. There is nothing I have to learn from them.

By the way - I'm white but not English.

@Naddd Just to make you feel better they are after anyone who is black or brown or visibly Muslim. The racists are not bothering to distinguish.

There are enough clips going around showing this.

The link gives an example of why:

This behaviour reminds me of the 90s… white racist chants openly racist things to those of colour. Police were involved but it was very frequent and almost normal occurrence.

Sad to see it’s come back 30 years later.

@BiminiRoad you can't keep your daughter in. Part of growing up in this country if you are visibly not white is learning to deal with racism due to your appearance and knowing when to leave a situation.

Absolutely correct.
You only have to look on social media, a lot, a hell of a lot of those voting for reform were under the belief that all brown faces would somehow disappear.

Yep! They though reform would sort what brexit didn’t. The same people who after brexit who asked me a brown person why I was still allowed to live in the UK are fairly likely to be reform voters.

Sheffield uni will be one of the safer areas as students cone from all over the world and are more educated so less likely to be violent in the way yoyve seen on tv in terms pf protests. He will be fine using the library.

My son just forwarded me this email from his uni.

@IncompleteSenten your sons need to stay at home from when it gets dark tonight.