In the face of the racist, islamophobic riots currently ongoing throughout the United Kingdom, Goldsmiths Students Union stands with the community.
In the face of the racist, islamophobic riots currently ongoing throughout the United Kingdom, Goldsmiths Students Union stands with the community. We are both enraged and terrified. We are aware that BAME and international students will have been greatly affected by these events. We extend our full support and solidarity.
Over the past week, far-right fascist riots have led to the burning of hotels thought to be housing asylum seekers, violence and attacks on Black and Brown and particularly Muslim communities in Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Stoke on Trent and several other UK towns and cities. Violence also notably broke out outside Downing Street in central London [1].
We see this violence for what it is, not ‘protests’ but pogroms - riots against a particular ethnic/racial group [2]. These are fueled by a racism that is both in the histories of colonial expansion and ongoing imperialist violence foundational to this country. This is also part of a particular trajectory of weaponised anti-migrant and islamophobic discourse that has been deployed by both major political parties for many years. In particular it is important to highlight that there has been a 174% rise in Islamophobic hate crimes since 2012/13 [3]. Pertinently, note recently that the current newly elected Prime Minister of the UK Keir Starmer when he says that ‘immigration is out of control’ and warns that too many foreign nationals currently work in the national health service (NHS); state rhetoric has a role to play in what we are seeing now happening [4].
We have also seen dangerous naturalising of fascist racist violence in headlines from news outlets, reporting recent events such as ‘Heated scenes in Bolton Town centre as Hundreds gather’ and ‘Clashes and Small Fire at Rotherham Hotel’, with reporters even characterising far-right rioters as a ‘Pro-British March’ [5]. This treatment of the far-right by media outlets is contrasted with the coverage of the genocide in Gaza, where reports have shown significant disparities in how Palestian murders are treated [6], contributing to an environment where BME people are dehumanised.
The violence Black, Brown, and Muslim communities have faced in and outside of the UK context are connected with the racist structures that make up and are perpetuated by the world system, thus it is apparent that we cannot and should not separate these other violences from the racist attacks we are seeing now. We also note that policing, surveillance and incarceration arising from these same violent structures are not the solutions, only community solidarity can protect us.
What we’re seeing is facism, racism, and Islamophobia. It is not ‘random violence’ , but rather situated within a wider environment of structural violence affecting Black and Brown communities. We stand in solidarity with racialised, marginalised, migrant and refugee communities. We call on Senior Management of Goldsmiths to recognise these attacks for what they are, not merely the consequences of amorphously defined ‘deeply unsettling rhetoric’, we cannot allow the pacification and both-sides-ing of racism, of organised white fascists terrorising racialized communities across the country. The attempt to morally equivocate and act 'neutrally' on these issues only serves to legitimise and minimise these fascist actions and displays an indefensible misunderstanding as to the nature of the issue.
What’s happening next:
After a significant far right day of action on Wednesday the 7th of August, but one where particularly in London, communities stood together and significantly outnumbered the fascists, we will keep students updated about future actions, areas to avoid and networks of support that exist throughout London.
Support
We are not aware of any incidents of hate crime/Racist Islamophobic attacks on Goldsmiths campus or in University accommodation at this time but should situations arise we will do everything possible to support students. We want to be explicit that this also extends to incidents of racism, islamophobia and facism that students may experience online in or outside the context of their University education.
Incidents that happen within University and student life can be reported here : https://reportandsupport.gold.ac.uk/
Incidents concerning things outside of campus and/or questions, concerns, support needs through these traumatic events maybe best directed to us directly at: Sabbs@goldsmithssu.org
University Support contacts:
Wellbeing Advisers
Visit: RHB 123, Monday - Thursday 2.30-3.15pm, Friday 9.30-10.15am
Email: wellbeing@gold.ac.uk
Campus Support Officers
Tel: 020 7919 7284
Email: campus-support@gold.ac.uk
SU Advice team:
SU Advice
Contact form: https://forms.gle/7bpKgYKrCBNruk9W6
Book appointments: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0948A8AC2DABF5CF8-advice#/
If you are concerned about an immediate risk of harm – either to yourself or someone else - or if you need support outside the service hours, please telephone 999 or see student emergency and crisis support.
External organisations to follow for more information and support:
(GSU are not responsible for content outside our organisation)
The Muslim Community Helpline
Email: ess4m@btinternet.com
Phone: 0208 904 8193/0208 908 6715
South London Islamic Centre:
020 8677 0588
8 Mitcham Ln, London SW16 6NN
Muslim Youth Helpline
https://myh.org.uk/about-us/
On Your Side UK
https://www.onyoursideuk.org/
Green and Black Cross, offer legal training and information for being safe at protests/counter actions:
https://greenandblackcross.org/
Pages to follow for more information:
(GSU are not responsible for content outside our organisation)