Waking up this morning feeling uneasy and exhausted and opening the curtains with trepidation, was surely a sentiment felt by many Londoners today. Did we sleep through further violence? What state were our streets in and would it be safe to leave home?
Since the violence exploded on Saturday, London boroughs have been indiscriminately targeted by rioters, looting local and national businesses, mugging innocent passers-by and physically attacking those who dared to challenge them or capture their image.
I was at the centre of the storm in Hackney and admit those few hours were the most intense and fearful of my entire life. Growing up in Newcastle, I’ve been witness to city centre brawls and mindless vandalism, even on my family home, but it’s unfathomable to comprehend the mindset of those willing to stab each other over a stolen pair of sneakers.
Since the riots started, we have all gone through a whole cycle of negative emotions starting with concern and anxiety, leading to fear, terror, anger, frustration, hurt and disappointment.
Experts who have worked with disenfranchised youth in impoverished areas have already offered significant insight, but from what I witnessed, it was a mixed group – guys, girls, all races, all ages – all with one common self-serving goal.
The backgrounds of those charged have emerged and include a graphic designer, a university graduate, a youth worker and a person about to enrol in the army. A social pressure cooker waiting to erupt or the ‘out of character’ participation of greedy opportunists?
However, such selfish mob behaviour awoke London’s true community spirit and the action residents have taken has been inspiring. As much as social media has been criticised for being a vehicle for destruction, Londoners from all boroughs (youths included) quickly organised clean-up meetings via Twitter. Residents kept the police going with cups of tea, local religious leaders pledged solidarity against the violence and a local Priest was there at street level to offer support.
This may divide opinion, but I praise the Turkish and Kurdish communities of Dalston for protecting not just their local businesses, but the neighbourhood for all of us. Allegedly, the rioters promised not to attack their shops but when they later advanced regardless, they were chased down Kingsland Road in a communal act of self-defence.
As the night draws on, the calm of the daytime has left many of us with an eerie sense of inevitability. As we watch the violence spread to other UK cities and towns, it’s difficult to feel any sense of relief. The UK has survived wars, terrorist attacks and continual threats to our personal freedom and social cohesion.
Unfortunately for the yobs, the riots just prove what a great bunch of people we have here, from all corners of the world, ready to fight for our city and country. These are the people we should value above anything else.
To help clean up and reclaim your community, visit: http://www.riotcleanup.com for meet up times and locations.
What are your experiences of the UK riots? How has your neighbourhood coped with the violence? Please comment below…
Photo: Two Minute Silence outside Pembury Estate by @HeardinLondon.
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