Siân Berry, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, has written to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, to urge “comprehensive action to protect and support all those subject to fascist intimidation”. She has called for use of police investigative capacity to make sure no-one taking part in or instigating the violence escapes the appropriate sanctions, unity from Government ministers and MPs against racism and Islamophobia, and in defence of Muslim citizens and communities of colour, and a “massive increase” in investment in communities at the next Budget.
In the letter, Berry writes: “What we are witnessing on our streets is fascist violence fuelled by racism and Islamophobia. Only by naming it and understanding clearly what it is can we work to defeat it.”
Addressing Yvette Cooper, Siân Berry urges the Labour government to “take comprehensive action to protect and support all those subject to fascist intimidation.”
Welcoming the Government’s support for the police to pursue the full range of prosecutions and penalties, Berry adds that the government must ensure “that sufficient investigative capacity is deployed to make sure that no-one involved in this horrendous violence and disorder is able to escape the appropriate sanctions.”
Berry also pressed the Home Secretary and government to take action to tackle the root causes of the violence, calling for unity against racism and in defence of Muslim citizens and communities of colour, and a “massive increase” in investment in communities at the next Budget:
“[While] enforcing the law effectively is important against fascist violence, it won’t be enough to fully deal with the causes, or to quell an ideology which uses organised political violence to undermine our society, divide communities and compromise the state and its institutions.”
Berry asks a number of questions about what action is being taken to fully investigate and prevent these attacks, including monitoring extremist groups and asks for investment in communities and youth services to be pushed by the Home Secretary and other ministers from the Chancellor at the upcoming budget.
Siân’s letter concludes: “Racism is the engine that drives fascism, so government ministers and MPs need to speak up now with one voice to celebrate and defend our Muslim citizens and all communities of colour, and their place in our diverse society.
“Cohesive communities do not just happen by themselves. We need a massive increase in investment to support this and I hope that you and other ministers will also be making a strong case for reinvestment in strengthening communities at the upcoming Budget.”
The full letter is available online HERE
