UK Race Riots Continue: The Bradford Riots, In Pictures
July 8, 2001 7:22 AM Subscribe
UK Race Riots Continue: The Bradford Riots, In Pictures Great pics! Bradford's riots last night left it looking like a scene from a World War 2 bombing. 120 police officers injured. I even saw a few set on fire on the live reports on TV through the night. Cars torched everywhere. Stabbings, petrol bombs aflying, all sorts of violence.
I'm just grateful I don't live up North!
I'm just grateful I don't live up North!
Probably I should take it with a pixel of salt seeing as your handle is 'wackybrit', but your comments are a bit flippant-- the race riots are not just something "up North," but something all Britons need to pay attention to, especially with asylum becoming one of the formost issues in the nation, and the growth of the National Front.
To the continent, and indeed the rest of the world we all "live up North," and this is an issue that will affect the entire UK.
posted by chaz at 7:42 AM on July 8, 2001
To the continent, and indeed the rest of the world we all "live up North," and this is an issue that will affect the entire UK.
posted by chaz at 7:42 AM on July 8, 2001
The South Pole lives up North to no one.
But seriouslly.. whats going on? .. it just looks like a lot of socially disenfranchised youth with not enough jobs and money in one of the richest countrys in the world faceing possible forced repatriation by right-wing racists.
posted by stbalbach at 8:30 AM on July 8, 2001
But seriouslly.. whats going on? .. it just looks like a lot of socially disenfranchised youth with not enough jobs and money in one of the richest countrys in the world faceing possible forced repatriation by right-wing racists.
posted by stbalbach at 8:30 AM on July 8, 2001
Police say they came close to being overwhelmed by violent clashes which left 120 officers injured and saw 36 arrested.
They arrested 36 of the 120 officers that were injured?!
I really hate it when editors let things like that get by.
posted by Grum at 8:42 AM on July 8, 2001
They arrested 36 of the 120 officers that were injured?!
I really hate it when editors let things like that get by.
posted by Grum at 8:42 AM on July 8, 2001
I live in Leicester (we must have one of the most ethnically mixed populations in the country). I'm white. I think it's an excellent city, and as far as I know there's little racial tension, but I really have very little contact with anyone here.
One thing I have noticed, several times now, is that people using vouchers to do their shopping (asylum seekers don't get money, afaik) often don't understand that they won't receive change and so end up losing out (checkout people try to explain, but they often don't understand).
I know that's a silly little example, but I've been lived in a country where - at first - I didn't speak the language. It's so easy to feel attacked, misunderstood, alienated and angry (and I was living in a walled compound full of english speaking americans).
I once had a Cantonese-born girlfriend. She'd get abuse shouted at her in the street from time to time. We once went round an estate (collecting donations for the Children's Society for some obscure reason!) and were followed by a bunch of kids making "slittly eyes" with their fingers.
My point, if there is one, is that there could be so many small things like this that could accumulate.
I'm a pretty agressive person. If someone gives me shit, I give it straight back. I can't help thinking that what we're seeing now is the shit coming back...
posted by andrew cooke at 10:00 AM on July 8, 2001
One thing I have noticed, several times now, is that people using vouchers to do their shopping (asylum seekers don't get money, afaik) often don't understand that they won't receive change and so end up losing out (checkout people try to explain, but they often don't understand).
I know that's a silly little example, but I've been lived in a country where - at first - I didn't speak the language. It's so easy to feel attacked, misunderstood, alienated and angry (and I was living in a walled compound full of english speaking americans).
I once had a Cantonese-born girlfriend. She'd get abuse shouted at her in the street from time to time. We once went round an estate (collecting donations for the Children's Society for some obscure reason!) and were followed by a bunch of kids making "slittly eyes" with their fingers.
My point, if there is one, is that there could be so many small things like this that could accumulate.
I'm a pretty agressive person. If someone gives me shit, I give it straight back. I can't help thinking that what we're seeing now is the shit coming back...
posted by andrew cooke at 10:00 AM on July 8, 2001
the only way to understand these things is by the example.silly indeed. on the contrary. We live in a society where laws are in place to jail someone who uses language that be construed as racial intimidation.(calling someone a 'mic' or 'sheeny'))(what does 'sammy' mean)) O.K. for example a white person who works in a predominantly african-american community. he...delivers pizzas. He goes to an apartment complex. enters domicile, inside are 7 rather tall gents. lets say hes says, "sup ma na-nas". Are these guys gonna put him under citizens arrest, wait for the police and file charges. HELL NO. he'll be lucky to leave alive. respect is the only criteria for survival at times like these. The 'shit' is here and been coming back.
posted by clavdivs at 11:48 AM on July 8, 2001
posted by clavdivs at 11:48 AM on July 8, 2001
The defining feature of a minority is that when it's seven against one, the seven are usually - in this country - white.
Or maybe I missed your point. Maybe you're saying I should have arrested the kids that shouted abuse at me and my girlfriend? Or that the asylum seeker that buys a pint of milk and finds that they get not change for that week's food voucher (I don't know the details) should arrest the person at the checkout?
posted by andrew cooke at 11:55 AM on July 8, 2001
Or maybe I missed your point. Maybe you're saying I should have arrested the kids that shouted abuse at me and my girlfriend? Or that the asylum seeker that buys a pint of milk and finds that they get not change for that week's food voucher (I don't know the details) should arrest the person at the checkout?
posted by andrew cooke at 11:55 AM on July 8, 2001
you missed my point. you should have pelted the little fucks with a dirt clod or shouted back. best to ignore them? Then why say something now and not then or did you. did she cry, did you feel...we can go round an round with isolated examples. i think your trying to understand why immigrants are being singled out for abuse and violence...it is small things in accumulation that led to more clear thinking. i think you said that well. In you line of questioning, what do vouchers have to do with burning buildings.
posted by clavdivs at 12:40 PM on July 8, 2001
posted by clavdivs at 12:40 PM on July 8, 2001
the Cincinnati riots were blown out of proportion by the media, which makes me wonder how accurate the reporting of this uprising is?
posted by Mick at 1:17 PM on July 8, 2001
posted by Mick at 1:17 PM on July 8, 2001
chaz said: your comments are a bit flippant-- the race riots are not just something "up North," but something all Britons need to pay attention to, especially with asylum becoming one of the formost issues in the nation, and the growth of the National Front.
Yeah, I know, Chaz. It was meant to be flippant. However, this is what a lot of people 'down South' are saying.. "Boy, I'm glad I don't live up near Manchester, they seem to have a lot of racial problems" without actually realising it exists on their doorstep too.
The fact is, there are very large concentrations of Asians in the North-West, and they tend to live in their own communities. Down South, and in London, people of different ethnic backgrounds are generally more spread out and interact with each other more.
These riots are also a reflect of current culture in the UK. This is a violent country. Thousands of kids will think nothing of stabbing another kid. We can look at the US and France and say that they have social problems.. but much of the affluent British society fails to realise we have major social problems of our own.
posted by wackybrit at 2:01 PM on July 8, 2001
Yeah, I know, Chaz. It was meant to be flippant. However, this is what a lot of people 'down South' are saying.. "Boy, I'm glad I don't live up near Manchester, they seem to have a lot of racial problems" without actually realising it exists on their doorstep too.
The fact is, there are very large concentrations of Asians in the North-West, and they tend to live in their own communities. Down South, and in London, people of different ethnic backgrounds are generally more spread out and interact with each other more.
These riots are also a reflect of current culture in the UK. This is a violent country. Thousands of kids will think nothing of stabbing another kid. We can look at the US and France and say that they have social problems.. but much of the affluent British society fails to realise we have major social problems of our own.
posted by wackybrit at 2:01 PM on July 8, 2001
clavdivs - I did shout at the kids. It made no difference (iirc, it seemed to excite them). No, she didn't cry - she was used to it; I was the one who was surprised.
Vouchers are an example of how the state demeans people (people that, in the main, are part of the "non-white" community). It's the state's equivalent of the children following us down the lane: you're a foreigner and you can't be trusted with cash.
wackybrit - I don't know how far north you consider Leicester to be, but while people mix in the centre of town and in the richer housing areas, and appear to work together, the poorer housing areas are pretty much racially segregated (we live in a "white" area - disturbingly the pub opposite our house flies a george cross) (although whether that's disturbing or not seems to depend a lot on age and political outlook...)
I honestly don't know if we're more violent than we used to be or not; when I listen to my parents and grandparents talk I get the impression their lives contained violence too. There seems to be some idea that children were better behaved in the past, but my dad can recall putting fireworks in the keyholes of people's doors on "mischief night" - could you imagine how you'd feel if that happened today? I'd be pretty shocked.
posted by andrew cooke at 2:22 PM on July 8, 2001
Vouchers are an example of how the state demeans people (people that, in the main, are part of the "non-white" community). It's the state's equivalent of the children following us down the lane: you're a foreigner and you can't be trusted with cash.
wackybrit - I don't know how far north you consider Leicester to be, but while people mix in the centre of town and in the richer housing areas, and appear to work together, the poorer housing areas are pretty much racially segregated (we live in a "white" area - disturbingly the pub opposite our house flies a george cross) (although whether that's disturbing or not seems to depend a lot on age and political outlook...)
I honestly don't know if we're more violent than we used to be or not; when I listen to my parents and grandparents talk I get the impression their lives contained violence too. There seems to be some idea that children were better behaved in the past, but my dad can recall putting fireworks in the keyholes of people's doors on "mischief night" - could you imagine how you'd feel if that happened today? I'd be pretty shocked.
posted by andrew cooke at 2:22 PM on July 8, 2001
see, your example leds me to conclude what is the significance of the george cross. When i posted at 12:40 i was heading out to pick up the kids(beautiful day) I stopped at the gas station and saw a worker from the local library(she knows me as im in the running for most books checked out, hey, i like the pictures) at any rate, she addressed me by name, wondered where id been etc. 5 months before her and i got into a heated argument about a copy of titus andronicus that im sure i returned. i did not. she was right and i profusely apologized. Shes gonna take care of my fine for a jefferson book that 3 months overdue. It felt nice. to be able to work through problem without race becoming an issue. That too is a diverse neighborhood about 60-40 with whites in the majority. We help push our cars to the side of the road, we listen to our problems and share things. The Gs'(slang for gangster) dont roll to much as they are outnumbered and there is a common interest to curb there ways. A six year old white girl was shot to death by a black child in our city about 2 years ago. This city was on ABCs' first story for three days.
people started talking to another despite the press.
posted by clavdivs at 4:10 PM on July 8, 2001
people started talking to another despite the press.
posted by clavdivs at 4:10 PM on July 8, 2001
I'm not much into flags and what they stand for, but St Georges cross is our countries flag, perhaps you could enlighten me Andrew on what's so disturbing about it being flown?. And that mischief night stuff sounds pretty tame to me really - nothing much more than a banger would fit in a lock anyway and there's plenty worse places they could be shoved. Ouch.
The initial response in the thread about flippancy referring to Wackybrit saying he's glad he doesn't live up north and him being reminded that it's something which effects everyone, well, what's the prob with him not wanting to live in an area which has serious race rioting in a different town each month Chaz? A region which, on the whole, even without these ridiculous riots, has more than its fair share of poverty and chemical pollution anyway, not to mention pissier weather. Here in the north-west it often feels like the armpit of Europe. He ain't saying the ramifications of this racial unrest wont effect him or everyone else on this island in some way, shape or form, he's just pointing out that he wouldn't really like to live up here in the thick of it right now. He objects to the mindless shit that's goin down wholesale and wouldn't like to stroll into the path of any angry warring lynchmobs and accompanying squads of riot police on his way to the off-license to buy 10 Lambert and a loaf of bread. And he aint saying that he's not paying attention to the causes and effects either; it's obvious that he is. The guy just don't wanna live up here, and inparticularily, by implication, in the towns where the rioting is going off after all the freaky-deaky scenes he saw on telly. This will effect the country, granted, but the overall direct effect each community incident has on the nation and peoples standard of living/feelings of security in an imminent-personal-danger/street level type way will be more amplified in the fragile areas where enough tension already exists for there to be rioting and in the border towns of those freshly narked long troubled tension-hubs. Why does this shit even have to be said. And why do people have to be so fuckin bla-dee-bla-dee-bla. A natural reaction for people seeing footage of escalating violence in an area on tv and reading about rioting and tales of cultural chaos is to think ''i'm glad i don't live there''. Flippancy shnippancy. Raceriots ain't happening on everyones doorsteps, and if at any time in the future they ever are someone in Europe wouldn't be being flippant when they say ''i'm glad i don't live in England''. Now, lemme see, where's that pixel of salt.. [books a flight to Nepal for the sheer hell of it].
posted by Kino at 5:33 PM on July 8, 2001
The initial response in the thread about flippancy referring to Wackybrit saying he's glad he doesn't live up north and him being reminded that it's something which effects everyone, well, what's the prob with him not wanting to live in an area which has serious race rioting in a different town each month Chaz? A region which, on the whole, even without these ridiculous riots, has more than its fair share of poverty and chemical pollution anyway, not to mention pissier weather. Here in the north-west it often feels like the armpit of Europe. He ain't saying the ramifications of this racial unrest wont effect him or everyone else on this island in some way, shape or form, he's just pointing out that he wouldn't really like to live up here in the thick of it right now. He objects to the mindless shit that's goin down wholesale and wouldn't like to stroll into the path of any angry warring lynchmobs and accompanying squads of riot police on his way to the off-license to buy 10 Lambert and a loaf of bread. And he aint saying that he's not paying attention to the causes and effects either; it's obvious that he is. The guy just don't wanna live up here, and inparticularily, by implication, in the towns where the rioting is going off after all the freaky-deaky scenes he saw on telly. This will effect the country, granted, but the overall direct effect each community incident has on the nation and peoples standard of living/feelings of security in an imminent-personal-danger/street level type way will be more amplified in the fragile areas where enough tension already exists for there to be rioting and in the border towns of those freshly narked long troubled tension-hubs. Why does this shit even have to be said. And why do people have to be so fuckin bla-dee-bla-dee-bla. A natural reaction for people seeing footage of escalating violence in an area on tv and reading about rioting and tales of cultural chaos is to think ''i'm glad i don't live there''. Flippancy shnippancy. Raceriots ain't happening on everyones doorsteps, and if at any time in the future they ever are someone in Europe wouldn't be being flippant when they say ''i'm glad i don't live in England''. Now, lemme see, where's that pixel of salt.. [books a flight to Nepal for the sheer hell of it].
posted by Kino at 5:33 PM on July 8, 2001
kino ist kronk ja? hehn-hehn. flippant little yarns make the stuff in spines weither tis flames or kiddies goin 'bang-bang' to local newcomer. drill the bloke on the flag skinny but dont RANT like winchell on Lockheed profitsharing. the british problems are year'n. sees we dont have much say. get a piece shoved in yer cake hole a few times and see the sociologist. yeah, mortar shells aint comin in the streets of liverpool or detroit. thats what a police force is paid for. move out(hell i skat) the true kahootz is to move back or go back and work in those areas of unrest. no ones saying thaeyz wouldnt cap some fuck whose jacking his stuff.and a real pro doesnt grease a box. other than that, nice comment. machinegunfunny-write if you find hash.
posted by clavdivs at 6:04 PM on July 8, 2001
posted by clavdivs at 6:04 PM on July 8, 2001
Bangers were more effective before legislation castrated them. Yes it's tame, but it's even tamer now; my point was that children don't seem to be more violent now. I've talked to many people about the George cross - in general older / rightist people see it as the country flag, younger / leftist people see it as a symbol of nationalism / intolerance / football yobs (my experience, not a god-given law).
posted by andrew cooke at 12:18 AM on July 9, 2001
posted by andrew cooke at 12:18 AM on July 9, 2001
"It was meant to be flippant". So funny.
And what the fuck is that strange clavdivs on about? Get some sleep.
posted by leafy at 2:39 AM on July 9, 2001
And what the fuck is that strange clavdivs on about? Get some sleep.
posted by leafy at 2:39 AM on July 9, 2001
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Anyway.. how can anyone afford to make petrol bombs in this country with petrol at 80p a litre!? ($4 a US gallon - I think)
posted by wackybrit at 7:24 AM on July 8, 2001