Racism today is enduring legacy of Bradford riots 25 years ago – Yorkshire Post Letters

From: Dr Manawar Jan-Khan, Manningham Residents’ Association, Bradford.
Bradford is much changed following the riots of June 1995.Bradford is much changed following the riots of June 1995.
Bradford is much changed following the riots of June 1995.

AS we come near the 25th anniversary of the Manningham disturbances that began on a summer evening on June 9, 1995, we reflect on what is occurring across the Atlantic.

In Bradford – and in Britain – we recognise police brutality igniting civil protest, fuelled by legitimate anger, an end to racism, injustice and inequality.

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These exist today in the psyche of institutions that disregard our rights, denigrate our cultural being and enforce a one-sided racialised discourse that demeans and demonises our birthrights.

This was the riot scene in Bradford 25 years ago.This was the riot scene in Bradford 25 years ago.
This was the riot scene in Bradford 25 years ago.

Even after a quarter of a century, we should not be complacent about “good policing” or promoting “good community relations” based on a reliance on old systems of patronage, and undemocratic processes, that continually favour compliant and, perhaps, complicit “community” or other leadership.

Scarman, MacPherson, even Ousley in Bradford, were all national and local wake-up calls that have now been archived.

The lesson from America is stark and we ignore it at our peril. Institutional racism has become more malignant, the denial more sophisticated.

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It is important we do not forget the lessons of that weekend of June 1995 and resist framing those who speak out as the new “other”. As was said then, the “voices must be heard” and even more so now, to ensure they are the right ones.

People hold banners during a Black Lives Matter protest rally as it passes near to Victoria station, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis.People hold banners during a Black Lives Matter protest rally as it passes near to Victoria station, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis.
People hold banners during a Black Lives Matter protest rally as it passes near to Victoria station, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis.

As Martin Luther King Jr wrote from jail in Alabama in 1963: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

WHAT terrible scenes we are seeing after the murder of George Floyd. I can’t help thinking looting and burning is not the way for black Americans to get justice in the future.

Unfortunately President Trump is not helping by his brutal handling of the situation.

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Surely there are more black Americans like the mayor of Alabama, who’s right in saying the black community is better than the lawless behaviour that many are showing?

From: Paul Morley, Long Preston, Skipton.

WATCHING the closely packed
Black Lives Matter protesters outside Downing Street, and hearing they had come together to prevent more deaths, I could reach only one conclusion: they had all tested negative for Covid-19.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

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Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor

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