I utterly condemn the violence which occurred in Hull City Centre last weekend. Nobody should make any excuses for the shameful actions of the criminals who have been attacking police officers, looting local shops, and threatening local residents.
Following this violence, I’ve been contacted by ethnic minority communities who are feeling unsafe to go about their everyday lives. There are international nurses feeling scared to walk home alone, Muslim women frightened to go out shopping or let their children play outside. We cannot ignore the racism, particularly Islamophobia, which fuelled this violence. Any racially motivated violence, physical or online, is unacceptable and has no place in our society or in our city.
I know from speaking to resident many people have legitimate concerns about immigration and these concerns must be discussed and addressed. As your MP I am more than happy to have these discussions with you and listen to your thoughts. I will always do what I can to help, and if I disagree then I will do so with respect and understanding.
On a more positive note, amongst the chaos and violence we witnessed over the weekend, I also saw the true spirit of our city. Lots of people came out to help clean up the mess and many others have sent me messages condemning the actions of those involved in the unrest on Saturday and support for the minority communities who were targeted. This is the true representation of Hull: far more good and decent people than there are criminals.
I strongly believe we can disagree without harming each other and our surroundings. We don’t have to agree politically but we need to show a united front that this violence is unacceptable, and ensure Hull is a safe place for everyone. I know as a city we are resilient and will bounce back stronger. If I’m your MP and you have concerns you wish to discuss with me regarding the events which unfolded in our city then please get in touch. I am always happy to listen to the views of residents.
Stay safe everyone.
Emma