No place in Yorkshire for racist vitriol over virus: Shak Rafiq

This has seen some sections of our communities coming unfairly under the spotlight under the false notion that they are somehow to blame for the spread of coronavirus.

There’s a never a time for divisions in society, but that is particularly the case right now as we continue to fight a pandemic that has impacted on all our lives and which is continuing to do so.

As Black, Asian and minority ethnic primary care leaders from across the country, alongside our white allies, we want to remind everyone in our communities that we must work together to reduce the impact of the virus.

We don’t yet know how long this virus will be with us and when we will have a vaccine.

What we do know that people from diverse backgrounds continue to support our efforts in caring for those affected by it.

People from diverse backgrounds continue to keep this country running, continue to stock our supermarket shelves, transport us to and from work and continue to help feed the nation.

It was with great sadness that we have noted the increased levels of intolerance, in particular towards the Muslim communities as well as continuing incidences of anti-Semitism.

At very short notice some of members of our Muslim communities were told they could no longer see their families.

They had to cancel their plans at the very last minute and took this all in their stride.

Despite this collective action, instead of praise some were faced with vitriol and indefensible abuse.

We want to set the record straight and remind everyone that this virus doesn’t discriminate and that it is a collective responsibility for keeping ourselves and our communities safe.

We have witnessed successive warm weekends being greeted by packed beaches, parks and bars.

This virus is still with us and we must continue to stay alert and follow social distancing guidelines.

Those at the packed beaches came from all walks of life and we’ve all been made aware of the risks of social gatherings, but we still saw this guidance being ignored.

We can only reduce the risk of spreading the virus by collectively working together.

Rather than pointing fingers, we should be opening our hearts and considering how people have come together to keep us as safe as possible.

As healthcare professionals working on the frontline of this pandemic, we have sadly lost some colleagues who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Disproportionately we’ve lost more people (healthcare staff and people from our wider communities from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds).

We owe it to them to end this cycle of blame, abuse and intolerant rhetoric.

Let’s come together, like we did on those Thursdays when we clapped for the NHS and our key workers, and show the world that we remain united.

Shak Rafiq is communications manager of the NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson