Politics

Hate Crimes Are on the Rise in the UK After Brexit Vote

June 27th 2016

Britain's decision to leave the European Union last Thursday was seen as a controversial move by many, and not just for its massive financial impact.

There is a disturbing trend following Brexit: A rise in reported hate crimes.

One Twitter user shared a horrifying incident that happened on Saturday night:

When asked "why were they knocked out?" the response was this:

This is not the only incident.

Sadly, all too many in the United Kingdom are reacting to a surge in reported hate crimes, TIME reports. Gareth Cuerden, head of hate crimes in Wales for the charity Victim Support, told TIME that his team has received more than 60 hate crime reports in Wales. Some of those reporting are non-European racial groups.

“There are very obvious links from the outcome of the result and people using it like a catalyst to say things like ‘we are out of Europe so you now can’t be here’ or ‘go back home,'” Cuerden said.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, British lawyer, politician, member of the House of Lords, and former co-chair of the Conservative Party, has seen such bigotry firsthand, ThinkProgress reports.

"I’ve spent most of the weekend talking to organisations [sic], individuals and activists who work in the area of race hate crime, who monitor hate crime. They have shown some really disturbing early results from people being stopped in the street and saying look, we voted Leave, it’s time for you to leave."

She added that "they are saying this to individuals and families who have been here for three, four, five generations." And she has used Twitter to show examples to those who don't believe, tweeting screenshots from those who have voiced their encounters with bigotry and hate:

Some are drawing frightening parallels to Nazi Germany:

Prime Minister David Cameron spoke out against these hate crimes, according to The Guardian.

"In the past few days we have seen despicable graffiti daubed on a Polish community centre, we’ve seen verbal abuse hurled against individuals because they are members of ethnic minorities. Let’s remember these people have come here and made a wonderful contribution to our country. We will not stand for hate crime or these kinds of attacks, they must be stamped out."

Police are not surprised by the attacks, telling The Guardian that "it’s no coincidence this has come off the back of the EU vote."

[H/T U.S. Uncut]

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