Racist Riots 2024: Impact on targeted communities (Blog 2/6)
This blog presents key insights from a scoping exercise* exploring the racist riots of August 2024, carried out by an independent consultant in collaboration with Migration Exchange. This collective piece of work draws on the input and insights of many organisations and peers in the refugee and migration sector.
This blog focuses on how the violence impacted targeted communities. It is the second in a series of six blog posts.
*This scoping exercise was carried out by a freelance consultant commissioned by Migration Exchange. The aim of the work was to: provide an overview of the racist riots, to reflect on how organisations in the refugee and migration sector, and communities, were impacted with a view to sparking preventative action; and to present the key resources and providers of safety, security and resilience support. The scoping work was carried out from Oct 2024 — Jan 2025 and involved desk research and 1:1 conversations with providers, funders and key partners.
The racist riots that erupted across the UK in August 2024 had a profound impact on racialised communities, Muslim communities, refugees and migrant communities and those supporting them. The repercussions of the riots went far beyond the streets where the violence took place, as targeted communities had to cope not only with the immediate physical threat, but the ongoing emotional and psychological toll it caused.
Racist abuse and violence targeted racialised communities across the UK. Some of these attacks were filmed and posted online, including a Black man assaulted by a white mob in Manchester, and an Asian male taxi driver dragged out of his car and racially attacked in Hull. There was also widespread vandalism and looting of businesses belonging to racialised communities.
Muslim communities, already grappling with rising Islamophobia, experienced a fivefold increase in abuse and a threefold increase in hate crime. Mosques were attacked in places such as Sunderland and Southport and individuals were subjected to verbal and physical abuse. Muslim women were also directly impacted, with reports of being spat at or having their hijabs ripped off in the street, highlighting the impact of gendered Islamophobia. According to a poll by the Muslim Women’s Network, 75% of Muslim women in the UK said they were very worried about their safety during the riots, compared with 16% feeling worried before the riots. The fear generated by these attacks forced many Muslim women and girls to stay indoors, limiting their freedom and increasing feelings of isolation and anxiety.
The mistrust of authorities made it harder for targeted communities to access support. According to Tell MAMA, 69% of people subjected to hate did not report it to the police due to lack of trust. Many people sought support within their communities and found other ways of managing their personal safety.
Migrant and refugee communities were a primary target of the violence. Accommodation sites for people seeking asylum were attacked, including a hotel in Rotherham which was surrounded by over 700 people, who set alight the fire escape and smashed windows. People seeking asylum and hotel staff who were inside at the time of the violence reported fearing for their lives. Much of the narrative which spread online and in the streets was anti-migrant, with chants such as ‘stop the boats’, reflecting the messaging of senior politicians and the government and its focus on curbing channel crossings.
Refugee and migration sector organisations were also targeted by the violence and reported feeling overwhelmed and fearful during the riots. Staff and volunteers with lived experience of forced migration were particularly impacted as they had to deal with personal safety risks whilst trying to provide support and reassurance to their communities. White colleagues reported feeling impacted by the violence with high levels of concern for the safety of their racialised colleagues and the communities they support. Some leaders of refugee and migration organisations were targeted due to their positions and regardless of their race, receiving abuse including threats of violence. Organisations themselves were direct targets, as a list sharing names and addresses of 39 legal aid and other organisations was shared across social media. The publication of this list led to refugee and migration sector organisations feeling vulnerable to attack, with many removing identifying information and staff names from their websites.
Organisations responded to the crisis by carrying out risk assessments, shutting down services, coordinating with local responders and engaging in counter protests. During the riots, leaders came together informally via online channels and discussions to access peer support to navigate the changing context. One of the key reported challenges during this time was the lack of trusted, real-time information on threats and planned protests, and a lack of contextually appropriate safety guidance. This impacted the ability of some organisations to effectively assess and act on the risks.
In summary, the trauma, fear, and uncertainty caused by these attacks will be felt for years to come, with lasting consequences on the mental health and safety of targeted communities. Marchu Belete, Co-Director at Migration Exchange, wrote a recent blog marking six months since the racist riots, in which she shares further insights on the mental health impact of the riots and the importance of building strategies for long-term preparedness.
For a deeper analysis of the impact of the riots on targeted communities, you can refer to the Supporting Document here.
Read the next blog
Our third and final blog looks at resources and providers of safety and security training and support. Read blog 3: Safety and security resources
Find out more and learn about available support
If you work in an organisation that focuses on refugee and migration issues or fund organisations working in this sector, and would like to find out more about the findings from the scoping work exploring safety and resilience linked to the racist riots, please register to join one or both of our online workshops in March.
Workshop 1: Safety and security
3 March at 1:30 pm — 3 pm (on Zoom)
This session will focus on safety and security management during and and in the aftermath of the riots. Organisations will have the opportunity to discuss and share their experiences and agree key priorities to better prepare for the future. There will be a panel including providers of safety and security support covering areas such as digital security, risk assessment and critical incident management, personal safety and building security.
Workshop 2: Resilience and wellbeing
31 March at 10:00–11:30 (on Zoom)
This session will focus on resilience and wellbeing. It will share recommendations for organisations to better support and protect staff and volunteers, and hear from providers of resilience and wellbeing support.
Sign up here: Registration form
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To contact us, please email on mex@global-dialogue.org
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Migration Exchange is hosted at Global Dialogue, a registered charity (1122052) partnering with philanthropy to advance rights, equity and diversity.
