Petition to the Birmingham Council Meeting Nov 1st 2005
Incitement to unity | 31.10.2005 14:27 | Anti-racism | Birmingham
A group of concerned and affected citizens of Birmingham met on Monday the 24th October 2005, to discuss the events of the prior weekend where at least two people lost their lives, many were injured, several seriously and residents and traders' properties were damaged or destroyed, some of which still remain vulnerable to future damage or destruction. All this occurred in response to the alleged rape of a young woman. The meeting started with a minute's silence for those who lost their lives in the weekend's events.
The meeting discussed the failure of the police and ambulance services to protect the residents and traders of Lozells, Handsworth, Parry Barr and surrounding areas against criminal elements bent on causing havoc in the area. The meeting felt that the Council must act rapidly now to avoid any further fatalities, injuries or damage to property.
The meeting therefore demanded that the Council should set up a public enquiry looking at the failures of the Police and ambulance services to provide timely and appropriate protection for the residence and traders of Lozells, Perry Barr, Handsworth and surrounding areas.
In addressing the root causes of the weekend's events the enquiry should address the following:
1. the police's failure to quell any rumours spreading widely and rapidly about an alleged rape.
This failure allowed pre-existent anger and resentment in the Asian and African Caribbean communities to be strengthened.
2. how the police might have calmed the situation by providing a categorical statement that no deportation would be made of the alleged rape victim who, it is claimed, resisted going to the police because she feared deportation.
3. Local media irresponsibility by stoking the flames of anger between communities by reporting unsubstantiated rumours without any investigation as to their accuracy before and after the weekend's
events.
4. the failure of the ambulance services to provide adequate support to the communities affected by the violence and destruction. In some instances the failure could have easily been life threatening.
5. The enquiry should look at some of the statements made by individuals, some with responsible positions in bodies linked to the council, that might have been inflammatory and exploited racist stereotypes and take appropriate action.
6. The more general economic, political and social reasons why grievances between communities have developed to the dangerous level that exists today in parts of Birmingham, specially in inner city areas like Handsworth, Lozells, Perry Barr and surrounding areas.
The enquiry should include representatives from all affected communities in Handsworth, Lozells, Perry Barr and surrounding areas so that local fears and grievances are heard and appropriately resolved.
Funds must be provided to raise the quality of life of people in these areas. Finally, the Council must immediately provide support and protection for the vulnerable peoples living in these communities in Lozells, Perry Barr, Handsworth and surrounding areas who have been affected by the violence and damage that has occurred thus far.
Council must, as a matter of urgency, setup a support structure that can start re-building the communities damaged by the weekend's events. This must include providing compensation to the victims of the events so that they can return to normal life as soon as possible.
The enquiry should include representatives from all affected communities in Handsworth, Lozells, Perry Barr and surrounding areas so that local fears and grievances are heard and appropriately resolved.
Presented by and on behalf of the Concerned Citizens of Birmingham.
The meeting therefore demanded that the Council should set up a public enquiry looking at the failures of the Police and ambulance services to provide timely and appropriate protection for the residence and traders of Lozells, Perry Barr, Handsworth and surrounding areas.
In addressing the root causes of the weekend's events the enquiry should address the following:
1. the police's failure to quell any rumours spreading widely and rapidly about an alleged rape.
This failure allowed pre-existent anger and resentment in the Asian and African Caribbean communities to be strengthened.
2. how the police might have calmed the situation by providing a categorical statement that no deportation would be made of the alleged rape victim who, it is claimed, resisted going to the police because she feared deportation.
3. Local media irresponsibility by stoking the flames of anger between communities by reporting unsubstantiated rumours without any investigation as to their accuracy before and after the weekend's
events.
4. the failure of the ambulance services to provide adequate support to the communities affected by the violence and destruction. In some instances the failure could have easily been life threatening.
5. The enquiry should look at some of the statements made by individuals, some with responsible positions in bodies linked to the council, that might have been inflammatory and exploited racist stereotypes and take appropriate action.
6. The more general economic, political and social reasons why grievances between communities have developed to the dangerous level that exists today in parts of Birmingham, specially in inner city areas like Handsworth, Lozells, Perry Barr and surrounding areas.
The enquiry should include representatives from all affected communities in Handsworth, Lozells, Perry Barr and surrounding areas so that local fears and grievances are heard and appropriately resolved.
Funds must be provided to raise the quality of life of people in these areas. Finally, the Council must immediately provide support and protection for the vulnerable peoples living in these communities in Lozells, Perry Barr, Handsworth and surrounding areas who have been affected by the violence and damage that has occurred thus far.
Council must, as a matter of urgency, setup a support structure that can start re-building the communities damaged by the weekend's events. This must include providing compensation to the victims of the events so that they can return to normal life as soon as possible.
The enquiry should include representatives from all affected communities in Handsworth, Lozells, Perry Barr and surrounding areas so that local fears and grievances are heard and appropriately resolved.
Presented by and on behalf of the Concerned Citizens of Birmingham.
Incitement to unity
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