Bradford vigil will stand up against post-Brexit hate crimes

BRADFORD residents will hold a vigil against the national spike in racist and xenophobic abuse since Britain voted to leave the European Union.

By The Newsroom

Published 5th Jul 2016, 14:18 BST

Updated 5th Jul 2016, 15:22 BST

Centenary Square, Bradford
Picture Bruce Rollinson — Centenary Square, Bradford Picture Bruce Rollinson

The event, in Centenary Square on Wednesday July 13, will also call on all political parties to defend the rights of migrant workers to stay in the country under the banner ‘Migrants Are Welcome in Bradford - Here to Stay’.

Organiser Javaad Alipoor, artistic director of Bradford theatre group Northern Lines, said: “Bradford has been at the forefront of welcoming migrants and refugees from all over the world including the EU. It is a city that has shifted and grown as community after community has made it their home.”

West Yorkshire Police said there has been no rise in reported hate crimes since June 24, the referendum result day. From June 24 to July 5, there were 13 recorded hate crimes in the city, compared to 41 in the same period last year.