Standing Together Against Hate

We all have the right to be treated without discrimination.

Alarming reports of an increase in hate crimes across the UK have been in the spotlight since the EU referendum vote. And the full picture is not yet clear – people experienced hate crime before the referendum and there may be many more hate crimes that go unreported.

Whether or not there has been a distinct increase in hate crime as a result of the vote and regardless of how anyone voted: one act of hatred is one too many.

Through your support we have sought urgent reassurance from local councils that they are on high alert and take any incidents of hate crime extremely seriously.

Together we can show that the UK stands against hate

Your actions have encouraged councils across the UK to act swiftly and speak out against hate crimes, xenophobia, racism and other forms of discrimination. Many councils have now taken a stand, thanks to more almost 16,000 emails sent by you.

The text of the motion is as follows:

“We are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes have no place in our country. Our council condemns racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally. We will not allow hate to become acceptable.

We will work to ensure that local bodies and programmes have the support and resources they need to fight and prevent racism and xenophobia.

We reassure all people living in this area that they are valued members of our community.”

So far, 411 councils have been contacted and we know the following councils have passed a motion condemning hate crime:

• Allerdale Borough
• Antrim and Newtownabbey
• Barnet
• Bath and North East Somerset
• Belfast City
• Birmingham City
• Blackburn
• Brighton and Hove City
• Bristol
• Broxbourne
• Cambridge City
• Canterbury City
• Cheltenham
• City of Wolverhampton
• Colchester
• Conwy County
• Corby
• Croydon
• Darlington
• Dartford Borough
• Daventry District
• Deane Borough
• Devon
• East Ayrshire
• Eastleigh Borough
• Enfield
• Epping Forest District
• Epsom and Ewell
• Fenland District
• Glasgow City
• Gravesham Borough
• Hackney
• Harlow
• Hatfield
• Hertfordshire
• Hounslow
• Hull City
• Huntingdonshire District
• Ipswich
• Isle of Wight
• Islington North
• Islington South & Finsbury
• Kettering Borough
• Lambeth
• Lancaster City
• Lichfield
• London Borough of Brent
• London Borough of Waltham Forest
• Medway
• Middlesborough Borough
• North Tyneside
• Norwich City
• Oldham
• Oxford City
• Oxfordshire Council
• Rochdale
• Royal Borough of Greenwich
• Salford
• Sandwell
• Sefton
• Sheffield
• Solihull
• South Gloucestershire
• South Somerset
• South Tyneside
• Southwark
• St Helens
• Stevenage
• Stroud
• Suffolk County
• Swansea
• Tameside
• Taunton
• Torridge
• Tunbridge Wells
• Vale of Glamorgan
• Wakefield
• Walsall
• Wellingborough
• Welwyn
• West Lancashire Borough
• West Somerset
• West Sussex County
• Wigan
• Woking
• Wokingham Borough
• Wolverhampton
• Worcestershire County
• Worthing Borough
• Wychavon District
• Wyre Forest District

If your council has passed a similar motion, let us know.

Councils respond on Twitter

Many councils have tweeted that they condemn hate crimes, racism and xenophobia unequivocally. Here are just some of the tweets from councils and councillors clearly stating their stand against hate. 

Proud to stand #againsthate with other @OxfordCity councillors. Great campaign by @AmnestyUK https://t.co/mD0lLS6rSx pic.twitter.com/KKHUnphYAH

— Tom Hayes (@CllrTomHayes) July 1, 2016

This is the response from Wolverhampton. @AmnestyUK #PostRefRacism pic.twitter.com/szzYXPqWG7

— Siân (@sharny_a) June 30, 2016

We condemn racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally. Motion passed unanimously at Stevenage Borough Council meeting tonight.

— Sherma Batson MBE DL (@shermabatson) July 20, 2016

In the news

Among many others, Croydon Council in London sent a clear message that hate crime has no place in a borough that celebrates wide diversity.

“Hate crime was unacceptable before the referendum and it is even more so now. I would urge any person who is a victim of hate crime to report it to us.” – Croydon Borough commander, Chief Superintendent Andy Tarrant

In the North-West of England, Cheshire West and Chester Councillor Nicole Meardon was clear that hate crime will not be tolerated and that all members of the community will be protected from discrimination:

"The Council and its partners wish to re-iterate the message that hate crime will not be tolerated in our communities. Protection and support is available to encourage victims to report incidents, and action will be taken against perpetrators."

Read more council responses here.

Come together against hate

Now is a time for us all to come together and show what makes us great: our strength in saying no to hate and discrimination.

If you haven’t yet, take action now and ask your local council to stand against hate. If you have done this and want to continue your stand, take this pledge and share it with others.