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WMA Statement On Birmingham Riots

West Midlands Anarchists | 27.10.2005 09:01 | Anti-racism | Birmingham

West Midlands Anarchists condemn the violence metered out in the name of racism on our streets of Birmingham. Those who attack people because of their race are a cancer on the working class, no good can ever come from the splitting of a vibrant working class community like that of Handsworth down fictitious race lines.

The gangs which hijacked an alleged crime and a communities peaceful outcry have succeeded in wrecking the certainty and the solidarity which exist between all communities in that area. Working class communities should work together to overcome problems, not be split by idiotic racist agitators like those who killed an innocent man and sent many to hospital. Those who may have carried out the attack on the girl deserve the wrath of the whole community, if it is found to be true, innocent people should never be attacked.

The deep rooted problems which cause discontent are the same as ever, poverty, unemployment and a poor community infrastructure. However the council and local officials try to make out on the tv and in the papers, Lozells, Handsworth and Perry Barr are some of the worse areas in Birmingham.

We also condemn the current policies against the movement of people, if these policies of hatred against immigrants did not exist, the alleged victim would have come forward by now and the violence that we saw could have been stopped. We also condemn the spreading of lies which could of fuelled the riots.

The working class has too many enemies for us to be fighting amongst ourselves.

West Midlands Anarchists
- e-mail: wmanarchists@email.com
- Homepage: http://www.wmanarchists.org


Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

Is that it?

27.10.2005 11:11

Is that it? A bunch of mealy-mouthed platitudes. Take out the stuff about class and that could have been delivered by anyone from NuLab or any of the local churches or mosques.

Where's the attack on the policies of 'multi-culturalism' that divides resources based on race and pits one community against another? Why don't you mention the community leaders on all sides who do their best to keep people apart? Why no mention of the whole cancer of identity politics that makes a fetish out of victimhood and encourages segregation?

Pathetic.

Manoj


In the real world

27.10.2005 11:38

Putting to one side for a moment the question mark as to the existence of the "West Midlands Anarchists" anybody making statements like,

"wrecking the certainty and the solidarity which exist between all communities in that area"

is obviously not a local to the area. The main contributing factor to the tension in the area is a complete and utter lack of social harmony between the two communities driven in large part by jealousy of the financial success achieved by the Asian community. The Afro-Carribian community resents the Asian community for making money with shops and the Asians don't like the AC's because they associate them with drugs.

Hard work from community leaders on both sides will in time build bridges, what neither group needs is the latest political theory from a six form student !

RT - who lives here


statement distributed by the South Asian Alliance on Saturday before the 'riots'

27.10.2005 11:47

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2005/10/326407.html

South Asian Alliance condemns violence against women

The South Asian Alliance is shocked by reports that a young 14 year Jamaican girl was allegedly gang raped by Asian youths in the Perry Bar area. This unconfirmed attack and the subsequent rumours that are going round have led to shops being closed, police being drafted into the area and increased tensions between African Caribbean and Asian Youths.

The South Asian Alliance calls on all sections of our community, both Asian and African Caribbean to come together and stop the situation from escalating and getting out of hand. We need to work together to establish the facts, at the same time we call on our youths to remain calm and exercise restraint.

We reaffirm our solidarity with our African, Caribbean Sisters and Brothers and stand united with them, we need to establish the truth of what took place, and if the allegations are proven to be correct our sympathises go out to the victim and her family. We call on the authorities to remove any constraints and provide immediate reassurances that no action will be taken due to her alleged illegal status.

The South Asian Alliance unequivocally condemns any forms of violence against women across all communities. Any perpetrators of such crimes need to be punished and brought to justice.

posting on behalf of the South Asian Alliance
- Homepage: http://www.southasianalliance.org


re

27.10.2005 18:42

Firstly, yes it could of been more criticising and more idepth, and we realise that and there will be an article in our next edition of 'brum brum' which will go further.

RT i do live the matter of 10 mins away, and i have many friends from that area. And i will think you will find that it is mainly oversized macho ego's from gangs of youths and not an actual split in the community itself.

WMA
mail e-mail: wmanarchists@email.com
- Homepage: http://www.wmanarchists.org


yawn...

28.10.2005 11:46

"...vibrant working class community..."

for which, read 'black'.

ezra


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