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Islington Labour councillors have been offering civic leadership during National Hate Crime Awareness Week (14 -; 21 October) and are sending a clear message that hatred will not be tolerated in the borough.

On Monday (16 October), Islington Labour councillors, along with Islington North’s Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, the police, the fire brigade and the community-led Hate Crime Forum, among others, all signed a pledge reaffirming their collective commitment to unite against hatred by taking action to prevent hate crime in Islington and to challenge those responsible for it.

The signing of the pledge took place at an event at Finsbury Park Mosque, at which Muslim women who have been affected by physical and verbal Islamophobic attacks spoke of their experiences of hate crime in front of a large crowd.

The pledge includes commitments to:

  • Unite against hatred or hostility directed at anyone because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or because they are transgender;
  • Challenge those responsible for hate crimes when they occur, if safe to do so, to demonstrate that we do not tolerate hate crime in Islington;
  • Learn about what counts as a hate crime and share this information with others;
  • Report to the police any hate crime they witness or suffer or of which they become aware; and
  • Support any victims of hate crime too.

National Hate Crime Awareness Week has particular significance for Islington this year, following the cowardly terrorist attack that took place near Muslim Welfare House in Finsbury Park in June. The attacker then sought to sow hatred but Islington united in defiance instead. The Council, emergency services and the borough’s residents rushed to offer support and rally together in a show of unity, proving that we will not be divided by hate.

Islington Council is running a number of activities throughout National Hate Crime Awareness Week, including a workshop for adults with learning disabilities at Centre 404 and an event for young people at the Emirates stadium.

Cllr Andy Hull, Executive Member for Finance, Performance and Community Safety, says: “This Labour Council is committed to creating a fairer borough for everyone. That includes ensuring everyone can be themselves without fear of persecution, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or because they are transgender.

“It is right that we are once again supporting National Hate Crime Awareness Week and making it clear that hatred will not be tolerated here in Islington. We are working hard to encourage more people to report hate crime to the police, with specific details wherever possible; improve victim support; and secure action against the perpetrators.

“Islington is a richly diverse borough that is home to people of all backgrounds. The vast majority of our community treat each other with dignity and respect. We will continue to challenge the small minority who don’t.”

For more information on hate crime and how to report it, visit the Council website.

 

Pictured – Islington Labour councillors, Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, and community and faith representatives at the panel event at Finsbury Park Mosque

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