The best security is a wall…of good people
As the longtime coordinator of a Neighbourhood Watch in London, England, here’s what we tell people we’re hoping to sign up: the best security is all the good people standing together.
And on the night of Wednesday, Aug 7 so it proved. Nationally.
On a night that was supposed to have more than 100 far-right rallies, when a multi-cultural area not far from where I live closed shop at 2 pm, anti-racism protesters reclaimed the streets.
The scenes were amazing in Walthamstow, at the other end of London from me, and in Birmingham, Bristol, Southampton, Sheffield, Liverpool, as well as many other towns and cities. Watch this video of a woman in Walthamstow. Listen to what she said and how the crowd responded.
Massive crowds of anti-racism protesters placed themselves solidly and proudly between any far-right thugs and their likely targets: a church harbouring asylum-seekers; an immigration lawyer’s office. This does not mean that Britain’s current bout of troubles are at an end. Even last night, there was trouble in some places, including Blackpool, Aldershot, Portsmouth and Chatham in Kent.
Even so, it does mean that the British people have shown, once again, that the stiff upper lip only quivers in sympathy.
While the authorities are doing their best by ensuring a well-publicised police presence at potential flashpoints, in the end, the best security is a wall…of good people.
Originally published at https://www.rashmee.com
