UK: riots in black community stir response
By
Fungai Maboreke
Aug.
9 (GIN) - The spectacle of anarchy unfolding in Britain’s low income
neighborhoods of Black Africans, South Asians and others, has prompted mixed
reactions of worry and concern from African, Caribbean and Asian communities
around the world.
Widespread
riots have been viewed on the internet, with looting, burning buildings and
vehicles and attacks against civilians and even the police.
The
disturbances were reportedly triggered by the death of a Black London man and
father of 4, Mark Duggan, 29, believed to have been caught in a crossfire of
police shooting in a raid called Operation Trident.
A
peaceful vigil in North London’s Tottenham neighborhood, led by the family of
Mark Duggan, turned violent when police apparently failed to meet with the
Duggan family and supporters. Now, similar incidents have been reported in Birmingham and Liverpool
which forced the Metropolitan Police to deploy at least 16 000 riot police
officers in riot gear to deal with it.
In
Zimbabwe, President Robert
Mugabe joined a chorus of international critics of the UK saying, “Britain
I understand is on fire, London
especially and we hope they can extinguish their fire, pay attention to their
internal problems and to that fire which is now blazing all over, and leave us
alone.”
Black
activist Lee Jasper from Brixton said the riots could be traced to alienated
youth, low paying or no jobs, lack of opportunities and “crap” housing. He
accused the government of cutting youth projects and suggested re-investing
millions of pounds recovered from criminal assets.
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