Those who use Brexit vote as an excuse to abuse, intimidate and attack others are to be challenged by a new cross-party campaign group launched today.
West Midlands Together has been set up following a ‘spike’ in racism and hate crime following the vote to leave the European Union.
Among those signing up for the fledgling group are the Birmingham Polish Expats Association and the Birmingham Commonwealth Association who say their communities, particularly children, have noticed an increase in bullying and abuse.
Founder, Conservative Euro-MP Anthea McIntyre said: “Opposing racism isn’t about left and right, it’s about right and wrong.
“Some people seem to have taken the Brexit vote as an excuse to treat other people badly. It did no such thing. The vast majority in the West Midlands are tolerant, welcoming and warm-hearted people who celebrate difference instead of exploiting it. As a majority we must come together to show this behaviour is unacceptable.”
Her colleague and co-founder Labour MEP Neena Gill added: ““n the West Midlands, the two weeks before the referendum saw a spike in hate crime and after the vote they shot up by half again.
“We need an action plan, but the only way you can do that is with accurate information. We must be sure that crimes are recorded properly.”
She said Eastern European people tended to be particularly vulnerable because they did not have the long-established support networks of black and Asian communities.
This was backed by Alicja Kaczmarek of the Polish Expats Association who said members of her community felt increasingly isolated after the Brexit vote and problems even extended to the school playground where youngsters were experiencing bullying.
The launch meeting in Birmingham appointed a steering group comprising Miss McIntyre, Ms Gill, West Mercia’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Tracey Onslow, Andrew Roadnight of the University of Warwick, Martin Levermore of Birmingham Commonwealth Association and Alicja Kaczmarek of the Birmingham-based Polish Expats Association. backed by former Liberal Democrat MP Baroness Burt of Solihull.
They will plan a series of events all across the region to explore how to promote an open, tolerant and inclusive society and seek practical ways of securing harmony between people irrespective of their background or cultural tradition.
