Why we need to take the rise in racism seriously - Yorkshire Post Letters

I am writing to express my deep concern about what feels like a troubling shift in our society. Increasingly, people seem comfortable speaking in ways that are harsher, more aggressive, and more openly prejudiced than in years gone by. What was once unacceptable is now, far too often, dismissed as ‘just saying what you think’.

Social media has undoubtedly played a major role in this. It provides instant platforms where individuals feel emboldened by anonymity and lack of accountability.

Some use these spaces to amplify extreme views, including right-wing racist rhetoric that targets minority communities and fuels division. It is alarming how quickly this kind of language has seeped into everyday conversation, normalised as if it were simply another political opinion rather than something deeply harmful.

At the same time, we have seen a rise in verbal abuse and even physical assaults against NHS workers. These are people who dedicate their lives to caring for the public, yet some now face threats, racist comments, and unacceptable hostility while simply trying to do their jobs.

No society should tolerate this. It reflects a wider coarsening of public behaviour, where frustration or entitlement is taken as permission to attack those who serve us.

All of this raises a pressing question: How have we reached a point where some individuals feel entitled to express hatred publicly, and what must we do to restore civility and a sense of shared humanity?

To reverse this decline, we need stronger emphasis on: responsibility and respect in public discourse, education about the real harm racist language and behaviour inflict, support and protections for NHS staff and others in public-facing roles, community initiatives that encourage listening, empathy, and understanding across differences.

Freedom of speech has always been a vital principle in this country, but it comes with moral duties. Words have consequences. When racist views are allowed to circulate unchallenged, or when abuse towards NHS workers is brushed aside as frustration, we erode the social fabric that holds us together.

I urge readers, leaders, and institutions alike to take this issue seriously and to work towards rebuilding a culture grounded in respect, fairness, and basic decency.