Real Britain is a Mirror series that stands up for your community and asks how politics affects real people. This week Ros Wynne-Jones, Maryam Qaiser and Claire Donnelly report on heart-warming Hope Not Hate tales from communities who won’t let racists divide them
It’s a moment that came to symbolise this summer – bringing hope to communities terrorised by rioters. Liverpool Imam Adam Kelwick hugged would-be rioters and handed out food to protesters gathering angrily at the gates of the Abdullah Quilliam mosque on August 2.
“A lot of people in the community were on edge, they were really worried,” he says of his act of radical hospitality. “But we said anyone coming to our mosque is welcome, like any guest. We had planned to invite them in and give them food, but the police said it wasn’t the best idea.
“So instead, after three hours of them shouting, we went outside and offered food to them.”
The image of Imam Adam hugging a protester went viral. “It took two people to hug,” he says now about that moment. “He came with ill intentions, but his outlook changed.”
“I’ve since stayed in touch with some of the people at the riots. It just takes one or two sessions with them and their radical views change.”
Two days later, as racist misinformation spread virally across the internet, gravestones in the Muslim section of Burnley Cemetery were desecrated. But the community response said everything about the real nature of the Lancashire town.
He added: “Within an hour some local young lads had turned up and cleaned the graves down,” says Father Alex Frost, vicar of nearby church St Matthew’s the Apostle, who put a call out to ask for help.
“Then a group of parishioners arranged a rota to take care of the graves. It showed the power of community.”
This is the Britain that Reform UK – which begins its annual party conference today in super-diverse Birmingham – doesn’t want you to see. A Savanta poll in August found over half the public believed Reform UK’s leader Nigel Farage was “personally responsible” for the violent disorder which led to more than 1,000 arrests.
But Reform’s divisive view of Britain is shamed by the Britons who quietly swept up the glass, rebuilt the walls, shared food with protestors and fundraised to save local businesses.
Over the last few weeks since the riots, we’ve partnered with HOPE not Hate to ask people to send in their positive stories for our Hold on to Hope campaign – and we’ve been inundated.
Shelley wrote to tell us how her local community in Essex had come together to stop a protest against an immigration solicitors’ office. “The more the fascists try to take over, the more we will come together,” she said.
Kathryne told us how local people in her area had banded together to help local migrants go on a camping trip. Courtenay from Carlisle told us about a project sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
“We are white, black and Asian, old and young, atheist, Christian, Hindu and agnostic,” she says. “But we all have the same wish – to make life a little easier for the people of Ukraine.”
Salli Martlew, 70, a volunteer at Wakefield City of Sanctuary, was one of those who wrote in. When news of a planned anti-migrant protest reached her this summer, she turned to tactics the city had used before.
“A few years ago, we heard the far right were coming into the city,” she explains. “So, we took over the space in front of the cathedral with poetry and music so they couldn’t make their way in.”
“There are people living at a hotel near here, so when we heard there might be problems there this summer, we took action again. We arranged to taxi people to safety. As Jo Cox said: ‘We have more in common than divides us’.”
The idea for Hold on to Hope began with graphic artist Anthony Burrill – who produced a limited edition screen print to mark HOPE not Hate’s 20th birthday this year.
“Following the tragic events in Southport, communities across the UK have endured the violence and hatred of the far right in their towns and cities,” Georgie Laming, director of campaigns at HOPE not Hate says.
“But, amid this turmoil, there are shining examples of unity and resilience. People from all walks of life took to the streets, not with bricks and masks, but with brushes and cleaning equipment, determined to restore their community and reject hate.
“We are at a crossroads. We can either hold our communities together or risk falling apart along racial and religious lines. We can stand together in unity or risk losing the progress made by generations who bravely battled against prejudice before us.”
This week, we also spoke to Mohammed Idris, 50, a father-of-four who owns the Bash café in South Belfast. The coffee, falafel and shisha business was set alight during the riots and the windows smashed.
Mohammed took hope from a well-wisher’s crowdfunder – which has raised £105k to help businesses destroyed like his in Belfast.
“I was heartbroken when my cafe was attacked,” he says. “Our cafe welcomed people from all faiths and backgrounds. The attacks affected my children’s mental health.
“But the public has been so generous in raising money for us. It will make a big difference. At first, I wasn’t sure we should reopen, but people in the community have stood and supported me.”
While this summer showed the worst consequences of racism and mindless thuggery, it also showed the solidarity and kindness of the vast majority.
Across our nation, Britain refused to accept the racist, xenophobic narrative being pushed largely by online agitators and outsiders on our diverse communities.
Tim wrote into our campaign that he has now decided to leave the far right behind. “I realise now I was 100% misguided. I have re-acquainted myself with my Christian faith and that has revived hope in my heart.
“I am ashamed that I was ever involved in nationalism, and I am seeking redemption and atonement for my involvement. Ultimately, I am holding on to hope because at the end of the day we are all human.
“We must work together. The alternative is hate and fear of the other.”
