Taking time off due to riots

[Sometimetomaself]

Hi, Black and Asian mumsnetters! How are you feeling? Is anyone else taking annual leave or sick leave this week?

I started feeling a certain dread over the last few days mainly starting last night and today I woke up feeling paralysed by fear, I’ve only just managed to force myself to clean the house because someone is due round later and I’d be too embarrassed to have the house looking grubby. I decided to call in sick and will be going for a nice shower next then doing some food shopping later to get out the house. Hoping my area is safe/OK. I’ll just be out briefly anyway.

A few years back if this had happened I’d have given myself a pep talk about being strong, but now I’m at the stage where I’m like no, I’ll do what’s best for me. Why push myself?

And quiet honesty at this time a part of resents working right now knowing me along with other taxpayers will pay for all these riots. While the rich agitators who have their money in tax havens will get off Scot free.

Btw, if you’re not a POC but are sympathetic feel free to comment but if you lack empathy and want to tell me to keep a stiff upper lip and carry on as normal, please don’t, people’s lives, safety and healthy are at risks. We are witnessing race riots.

sorry in advance for typos. I’m very tired 🥱

I work from home so haven't had to think about time off of work due to commuting worries etc but we do have a few small trips in the UK coming up and I'm feeling a bit worried about them. I'm American of Indian origin and my husband is British and is from Southport. We were planning to go up to see his family at the end of the month but now we are not sure. Our plans originally were to stay with his parents (they live about a block away from where it all happened) and go out to the pub one night with his siblings. I think he is also worried about my reaction if someone does say something to me, I'm not really known for keeping my mouth shut and have gotten in people's faces in the past when I've encountered racist shit. Most of the time they have just backed down of walked away but I suppose it could have turned bad as well, I'm just not good at holding my tongue.

Anyway, I share your pain and worry. I just read today that countries like Nigeria, India, Australia, Malaysia are all warning their citizens not to travel to the UK. It's absolutely appalling and I hope these dickbags are all thrown in prison.

It's absolutely appalling and I hope these dickbags are all thrown in prison.

@UnfriendMe lots of them are being held in custody until they are sentenced later this month.

However the sentencing has started for others - I've only seen two this afternoon - who can be sentenced at magistrates court this means they only get a few months in prison or a community sentence. One got 2 months custody and the other got a 12 month community order.

BTW you have all just reminded me I may need to change my travel route later tomorrow to avoid a mainline station.

I’m so sorry you feel like this. It is absolutely disgusting what is happening.

I am white and get angry about the riots and about threads on here excusing racism so I can’t even begin to imagine how bad it is to live this every day. I am in Plymouth where we had quite a significant amount of violence, but I am pleased to say the anti racist protest was a lot larger than the racist ‘stop the boats’ one. I wouldn’t have wanted to be near the rioting so it would be a million times more scary for someone non-white to have to go out and risk being seen/caught up in it through no fault of their own.

I really hope this stops soon and that the offenders are brought to justice.

Bloody hell, this is just awful that so many of you here are being put in the position of having to take time off, I'm so sorry.

This afternoon I got authorisation for our office cleaners - who usually come in during the small hours - to have Wednesday off (paid), as I really don't like the idea of them travelling alone across London in the middle of the night when Wednesday seems likely to be a flash point day for racist violence, and the cleaning contractors are two young-looking Black guys who may be seen as a target. I've posted on an industry forum to encourage other offices to consider doing this for any staff travelling at odd hours, and I'm posting about it here now just to note I didn't get any pushback for seeking authorisation for this, which I recognise is lucky, but which I really hope proves not to be completely unheard-of.

I can’t believe we are meant to be a civilised country when decent people are actually afraid to go outside. It’s absolutely disgusting.

Sadly I work on online harms/abuse so this has now been added to my workload I'm also Black it's tiring and hard living it and working on it

Honestly it's so frightening. I didn't care at first but now that I have received racist comments, I really do feel worried for my safety.

I’m so sorry. Please know that not all white people feel the same as these blockheads.

Two of my direct reports don't feel comfortable coming into work this week. It is absolutely understandable and they can wfh for whatever length of time they want to as far as I am concerned. I'll face the battle with those I report to should I need to.

I'm white British and I am thoroughly ashamed of this country right now and angry that the balance of our multicultural society, with all the benefits that brings, can be shattered so easily.

I hope the masses who feel the same as I do are strong enough to counteract the hate in the coming weeks/months and that everyone feels safe and at home here again.

KS dealt with the rioters appropriately in 2011. I pray🙏that he will make sure that the same happens in 2024 and I'm heartened that his DPP background will mean that I expect him to take no shit on this.

Sorry to hear this 😔 what happened - was it near a riot or more of a random encounter with a racist?

It wasn't near a riot. Just a few incidents when out with my kids. Nobody was physically harmed but it came close to it and that shook me up.

NHS worker here. Our Trust have cancelled all non essential face to face meetings and moved as much online as possible, encouraged staff to buddy up for transport and breaks if out in the community and essentially issued a statement about employee wellbeing=a priority so for staff to approach their line managers, wellbeing conversations facilitator or HR to discuss support needs.

Sounds like a smart move. I’m glad they’re taking it seriously, because I don’t know if it’s due to the way media are reporting it but some people just seem so unaware of the risk @Jobsharenightmare

I’m mixed and live in a (mainly white) village and the riots feel a million miles away. But I’m meant to going to London this week with family visiting from the Caribbean and as much as I’m the one with the “it’ll be fine” attitude I do have concerns.

As worried as I am about myself I always think it must be so much worse and more frightening for that to happen when out with children.

That is the thing with racist comments it’s not just name-calling, because not only is it dehumanising in itself but it’s also a clear warning sign that things may escalate into full blown violence. And it’s that very real threat that makes many if not most POC feel alarmed when abused.

A few? That’s awful to have even one incident 😵‍💫 let alone more than one. I hope you and your kids don’t have any more racist encounters 😔

I'm going to Portsmouth today, on my way now actually. Kinda scared tbh.

I drive everywhere but taking the train today. Coincidental timing isn't great

Stay safe everyone.
Our local shopping center was evacuated yesterday and trains to our station cancelled. A couple of my teenage dd's friends were on a diverted train and were terrified. Kind of low level compared to what is going on around the country. We are keeping away from the local town and city for now and we are a white family, so goodness knows what it must be like for people of colour.
My dd and I have a trip to London coming up in a couple of weeks, and whilst I know it'll probably be fine, I'm still worried.
Also, there doesn't need to be actual violence or a protest to feel scared, the atmosphere is tense.

I'm visibly Muslim and too scared to take my kids to the park. We live in a very Asian area so initially I wasn't too worried but the EDL have been travelling down to us.

I'm so sorry these thugs are making people feel the way you do. Nothing but love and support from me

I am so sorry for all of you going through this. I am white British/Irish so I obviously don't get any racism thrown at me, however I have had plenty of homophobia thrown at me as an LGBT woman. It is horrific to be targeted by small minded nasty individuals just for simply existing. You have my full support and solidarity.

Are you a black Mumsnetter? What an astonishing response.

Hi OP - just a quick message of support, and dismay that you're enduring this dreadful racism and chaos and fear.

I'm white and I'm ashamed of this country.

I hope you got a really good cake at Tesco's!

I am white and will never walk on your shoes. Just wanted to show you that I am thinking of you and your families at this time.
I was just in a place station to speak to the front desk and a man was in there asking about info on demos/events in the area. The police officer told him that the advice is to avoid the city centre. This is so sad. 😞
I was in a city in Wales where there have been isolated incidents but haven't seen any riots etc.
Stay safe and I hope you can go to work without fear soon.
I also hope I don't sound patronising.
I have been reporting posts and blocking people on Twitter as it is getting so awful. The vitriol some people have due to skin colour or religious beliefs is just plain disgusting.