Not in Our Name or the Name of Preston : Public Statement / Press Release from Preston City of Sanctuary
Preston City of Sanctuary
Not in Our Name or the Name of Preston
Public Statement / Press Release from Preston City of Sanctuary
August 6th 2024
As a local organisation supporting sanctuary seekers from across the globe and now living, until very recently, safely and peacefully in our City we are deeply disturbed and disgusted by the shocking scenes of far right violence in various parts of the UK over recent days. We are thankful that so far the events in Preston have been relative low key and well contained. However, we remain anxious and vigilant because attacks on sanctuary seekers and Muslim communities and their property, and mob violence remain a possibility. We will seek to support. assist and protect any who fall foul of racist thugs.
The deliberate fire raising at asylum accommodation in Rotheram and Tamworth, and attacks on mosques in Southport, Liverpool and the North East has shaken us all. Innocent people have been beaten, surrounded, spat at and threatened with violence. People seeking sanctuary from war, persecution and unimaginable suffering are literally now too frightened to leave their home or let their children play outside. This in a country, where for most, its greatest strength was the sense of safety that they had finally found.
As a city Preston is rightfully proud of its 7 schools of sanctuary, its College of Sanctuary and more recently its University of Sanctuary, and its libraries of Sanctuary. We are proud of the support shown to sanctuary seekers by the City Council, our many local faith communities and the various voluntary and statutory organisations that offer support. Just as important is the genuine welcome shown by the people of Preston to those who arrive in our city as a result of forced migration.
The thugs perpetrating this violence, do not represent the people of Preston. Preston is a city of sanctuary, it is a welcoming, tolerant place where people of all faiths, backgrounds and cultures have lived peacefully together side by side, for many years. What we are seeing are not the actions of Prestonians. The racist words they scream as they destroy the very infrastructure that they claim to support, as they attack our emergency services (so often staffed by hard working dedicated people who came to this country as refugees), and as they undermine law and order are not the words of the people of Preston.
We must not let the actions of these out of control (and out of City) mobs, or politicians who should know better or the false claims shared on social media, define our proud City. Hatred, Racism and Islamophobia have no place here.
Preston City of Sanctuary Team
See our website https://preston.cityofsanctuary.org/
contact us via prestoncity...@gmail.com
