Anti-refugee hate didn’t start a year ago
Everyone deserves to be safe and free of fear – no matter where they were born, their race or religion. Refugees, migrants, Muslims and racialised people, British or not, should feel safe on our streets and in their homes, and that they belong in our communities.
But a year ago, the UK erupted in racist, Islamophobic and anti-migrant violence, led by the far-right and fuelled by misinformation and political rhetoric. Many of us at Safe Passage and refugees we work with lived in fear for weeks. Unable to leave their homes or go to work, and being warned by police that their safety couldn’t be guaranteed in their own neighbourhoods. Many felt totally alone as they were left to protect themselves. Most are still living with the impact, with a long road to healing.
Living in terror hasn’t gone away, with more vile and dangerous riots outside hotels housing people seeking asylum in recent weeks. Many of those targeted have already fled war, torture and persecution, only to be met with more violence on their doorsteps in a country they believed would be a safe haven.
But this didn’t start in 2024 in the hands of a few loud people. We’ve had over a decade of anti-refugee policies and words from our politicians laying the groundwork, stoking tensions, dividing us and scapegoating the failures of governments. This normalises racism and the dehumanisation of refugees, emboldening the far-right.
We must not accept this. And the truth is, the majority of people don’t. Communities across the UK responded to riots in their thousands. Armed not with fists or fire, but with placards and powerful solidarity to stand with those being targeted. Together, we have challenged the systemic causes of hate and division, and rallied to offer welcome and support.
But we need more from the Government. It can’t just denounce the minority driving this unrest, it must stop, along with all politicians, using dehumanising and inflammatory language when talking about migration and refugees.
We want to see a UK that upholds the rights of refugees. This has to start with welcoming refugees through safe routes, providing protection quickly, housing people safely in our communities, and celebrating the skills and experiences of refugees.
To those that share this vision, this is the time to continue showing your support for friends, colleagues, families, neighbours and strangers. We must show that there is no place for racism, Islamophobia and anti-refugee hate.
What you can do
We all have a role to play in building safe, welcoming communities where everyone can belong. Here are just a few ways you can show solidarity today:
1. Start courageous conversations. Harmful myths fuel violence against refugees. But we can challenge the narrative, one conversation at a time – whether that be with family, friends or in your workplaces. Get started with our easy guide >>
2. Share a message of solidarity. More than ever, we need to let refugees and other impacted know they’re not alone. Send your message >>
3. Make your support visible. Put up a message of support for refugees in your window to show your community stands against hate, and make refugees feel seen and welcomed. Download our posters >>