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 🥱

Hi OP, thanks for this. I hope you're ok. I'm feeling very upset by all of this. I live in a predominantly white town and am on edge. I did not travel into London for work (as one of the riot spots en route). Not sure what to do. My DH is white and doesnt understand how I feel. My predominantly white colleagues have not even brought it up - like nothing is going on?! I'm scared. I'm worried.

Received a lovely email that almost made me cry from head of our directorate in the council I work at. I'm WFH until this passes and then accessing in person support once I'm back in the office. Have kept the kids off holiday club today and cancelled my dentist appointment. Fresh Milk and bread will have to wait and be bought another day!

You can talk to us. We're all in this together.

This was shared in another thread. I'm hope it doesn't upset- stay vigilant:

Sorry pressed send too soon- I don't mean to upset you further. Just warn family and friends to be vigilant during prayers. X

@dimsumfatsum thank you, you've just made me tear up. I live close to a pub that's notorious for these EDL types, had no idea when I bought this house as I'm not from the UK so unaware of these things. I'm afraid to even leave my house and walk by it.
I keep telling myself, surely the government will stop this?! But more riots planned?
How can this be happening here :(

I'm white and I'm so, so ashamed and embarrassed to be in the same race as these idiots right now.

I can't even imagine how it feels to be a possible target of these idiots. I'm so sorry. That's all you can say really, isn't it?

@Rella357 sending you lots of hugs. That's awful, please stay safe.
Can I ask - from these texts etc that are being sent, are we allowed to collectively share a Google sheet or something and note down names / mobile numbers.
Just so these sort can be identified and document can be sent to police.
Sorry I don't know if that's legal or worth doing, just an idea. Maybe a bad idea but honestly I feel helpless and don't know what to do.

You can't predict these things. If it helps, I live in one of the most diverse boroughs of London and some of the posts on our local FB group have left me feeling like my parents must've felt like in the 60s/70s- the blatant racism is chilling. What's doubly upsetting is how Asians are turning against Asians and how people I've usually defended (our local Jewish community) are coming out with taunts about how 'we' deserve what we get?! Divide and conquer at its very best.

I'm not a POC but just wanted to post to say I am very sorry for this appalling racist aggression and it's awful to see the effort it's having. I'm my team at work we have two people of colour, they have been given the option to work at home, but they shouldn't have to feel as if they need to. It's all awful.

Also, it might be worth sitting down with your husband and telling him how deeply sad you're feeling right now. In times like these, we need as many allies as we can find.

Hey sisters.

I'm making it out of Portsmouth unscathed. I'm not from here but there's a great shopping outlet here someone recommended so I took the train up.

There's a sense of solidarity here between black people, the ticket inspector at the station when I got here told me he was scared and told me to be careful.

I told him that here is more diverse than where I live so God Forbid if something happens, there's more people here to go through it with. As sad as it sounds.
Which in all honesty is better than going through it alone where I live.

I'm happy I've treated myself today and came here.

I will also say that a lot of white folks smiled at me today, much more than usual.

@dimsumfatsum thank you for your advice. The scariest thing is people justifying these riots. Sending love to us all.

Thanks everyone, have just caught up with all the posts and sad to see all the different ways so many are being affected, but very uplifting to see everyone supporting each other and being empathetic.

I’m grateful to anyone who reported offensive posts today, I didn’t actually see any of them
but can see some posts have been deleted so I’m assuming.

I had a lovely day getting my nails done as a treat and visiting my fave bookshop where the staff are always so welcoming to everyone. I felt so happy and a bit teary just to sit down there in such a warm environment. Made sure I was home by mid-afternoon though.

I don’t know if things are kicking off now or not as I’ve not checked the news for a couple of hours, but I’m going to make dinner and watch some K-Dramas now. Hope everyone is alright tonight 🌸

I am just so sorry people have cause to feel frightened. The state of polarisation and hate we’re in right now is appalling. I hope people are looking out for you OP, and I’m glad you took a day to look after yourself - it’s very important.

I’m Indian origin. Work a building with lots of companies but also including solicitors that do immigration law and these groups may be targeted as well. We don’t but all wfh anyway just to be safe. It’s tough because I live alone. Most of the others prefer wfh (though obviously not forced by these circumstances).

I haven’t looked at what might be planned for the town I live in. I just don’t want to in case I find something.

Lots of counter demonstrations are and have happened so the right wing protestors have melted away...

Yes, @Reugny , pleased to say they don’t appear to have Leeds on the list after the anti racist protestors massively out numbered the mindless idiots at the weekend.

Glad to hear you managed to do something enjoyable today.

Hope everyone has got through the day safely and well.

OP I am sorry that you have been made to feel this way. There are a lot of utter fuckwits out there and I hate that they are making people feel scared to go out.

They are the poorest people living in areas of deprivation.

They have been persuaded that blaming POC for their lack of resources is reasonable by the tabloid press and the likes of farage / Tommy Robinson.

Just as misogyny spreads online, so does racism.

There are also factors outside of this country wanting to destabilise our new leadership.

Most people are not racist thugs, as demonstrated by the huge number of people coming out to demonstrate their opposition to such behaviour. They deserve more publicity.

The harshest penalties must be thrown at these individuals and those who incite them and encourage their disgusting behaviour.

I'm so sorry you feel this way op. Sending love.

I'm black OP. The sick feeling you have OP is the sickness of having to deal with this shit, day upon day and sometimes one forgets about it and then gets a sharp reminder.

Being black is hard, its tough in this country, and we have to look after ourselves mentally and physically. But take solace in previous generations surviving and white allies who stood up to the NF, the BNP and now this loose bag of Trumpists, Ex EDL and radicalised Reform voters.

I think a HUGE part of all of this is the mob mentality after the murder of those 3 poor little girls. Its the lynching mentality that transforms ordinary people into a blood thirsty mob. They were triggered and the internet egged them on. I really do believe if the killer had been Muslim and an asylum seeker, it would have grown a lot bigger than it did. Him being the 'home grown' son of Chirstian immgrants took the sting out of it but only slightly. It was still a trigger for anti black racists certainly and a pile on for anyone who hates anyone who isnt white , christian and English.

Note how theres been no riots in Wales or Scotland, this is a very old group of English nationalists that never went away from the 70's.

Be sensible, for now I'm avoiding isolated spaces and walking around late , and I will continue to do so, its sad we have to do this, but it Twas ever thus.

I am not a POC, but I am so so sorry that anyone has to feel worried for their safety because of their skin.

I have had a churning panicky feeling in my stomach since this all started, just feeling ashamed that we share our country with these vile yobs.

I don’t think you’re over reacting at all - I think everyone needs to do what is right for them, to feel as safe as they can.

This is awful. The Twats are the usual scum who come out to loot and create carnage. I'm so sorry that you feel that way OP however, I think things may be turning around. Funny how the threat of cold weather / rain keeps these idiots in!

. But take solace in previous generations surviving and white allies who stood up to the NF, the BNP and now this loose bag of Trumpists, Ex EDL and radicalised Reform voters.

Indeed @matildamiracle previous generations have fought and defeated similar threats ✊🏾✊🏻It just occurred to me how strange it is that they don’t teach children in school much about that period of British history with the NF and the uprisings that happened in areas like Brixton and Toxteth. Will they hide this as well in 30 years time?

I agree it would’ve been completely game over if the southport killer was a Muslim asylum seeker. I remember waiting for his identity to be revealed and hoping he wasn’t Muslim. Some of these people are still convinced he’s Muslim anyway. They don’t want to let facts get in the way of their narrative 🤦🏽‍♀️

Be sensible, for now I'm avoiding isolated spaces and walking around late , and I will continue to do so, its sad we have to do this, but it Twas ever thus

Yes this is pretty much what I’m doing. In America there are places called “sundown towns”. I don’t know the ins and outs but from what I understand they are called that because black people were/are basically expected to leave after 6pm. This almost feels like what’s happening here now.
Many POC are going into certain areas to work or do errands then hurrying home.