UK government's decisive action praised amid anti-immigration unrest: Video
A UK-based Nigerian filmmaker, Adewumi Oluwasemilore, has commended the government for its prompt response amidst recent anti-immigration riots in some parts of the country.
Speaking about the government's response to Global South World, the filmmaker, a resident of Middlesbrough, noted the swift deployment of law enforcement and the immediate condemnation of the violent actions by Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.
"I’m not even going to lie, literally 30 minutes of the riots breaking out…the Prime Minister already gave a speech and the intensified police everywhere. While it was happening, there were helicopters around. You could literally hear them in the video I made. There were police everywhere but the numbers were a lot at that time literally less than an hour after…in his speech that was where he condemned them as far rights and said they were going to be charged. The court started sitting for 24 hours and they started charging them immediately. People are getting six months, twelve months in prison,” said Oluwasemilore.
The filmmaker believes the government's actions played a crucial role in curbing the violence and preventing further unrest. "The measures taken by the UK government undoubtedly helped a lot, I’m not going to lie," he stated. "The UK government kudos, they did well to cop this thing happening.”
Concerns about racism despite government efforts
However, despite the government's efforts, the filmmaker expressed ongoing concerns about the deep-rooted issue of racism in society. They highlighted the pervasive nature of racial prejudice, noting that the problem extends beyond immediate actions and requires long-term solutions.
“I still feel unsafe walking around, you know, cause, I just feel like this thing is embedded in people like from, like their childhood. Like you see, like kids, everyone. You see the video online, you would see kids, you see people that literally don't even know what they are fighting for. I think what the UK government can do is just, cop it in a little way, which is what they are doing. But, this thing is deep down, like into people like this thing is deep down into people. And it is so sad. It is so sad that some people just feel like because you have a different skin colour. You are better than I am. I just do not understand it,” Oluwasemilore said.
The filmmaker emphasised the need for re-education to address the underlying issues of racism, arguing that media, folklore, and generational biases contribute to the problem. "It's not just about enforcing laws; it's about changing minds. Music, films, and other forms of media can play a crucial role in showing that everyone is equal, regardless of skin colour or religion. Racism is not inherent to any race - it's about individual attitudes and behaviour. The world needs more love and understanding. Until re-education reaches the grassroots, I fear the situation won't change. The UK government has made a good start, but there's still a long way to go."
British authorities have arrested over 1,000 individuals in connection with days of rioting that involved violence, arson, looting, and racist attacks targeting Muslims and migrants, a national policing body reported on Tuesday. The unrest began in response to the killings of three young girls in the northern town of Southport on July 29. This incident was falsely attributed to an Islamist migrant due to online misinformation.
