It has been a heavy week in some ways and in some ways, it’s been a week that has given us some hope and maybe some light. When I write newsletters, I often try and change topics every week and while I don’t plan on doing a straight copy and paste of last week’s newsletter, I think there are some things to be said.
While we all watched the denial of Islamophobia and racism over the past week, I guess I’ve also been reminded of the importance of community. As Jendella Benson’s new book reminds us “all that we've got” is each other. The anti-racist march and seeing so many Muslim, Black and Brown people turn up in their 1,000s to say they weren’t going to live in fear of the Far-Right racists. I particularly felt hopeful at the Walthamstow anti-racist protest as someone who knows the area well. It was indeed a bittersweet reminder at the courage we can need as Black and Brown people to live in this country. Yet, it was sweet to witness the defiance of those who turned out across the UK to silence the Far Right.