Rishi Sunak condemned “a small minority” who abandoned the fight against racism by “violence, vandalism”
London:
Two of Britain’s top ministers, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Priti Patel, spoke out against racism as Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed his “most diverse cabinet” in British history in the last call for restraint among protesters against racism.
Prime Minister Johnson posted a video on social media to reiterate that “yes, Black Lives Matter” but stressed the need to also get the message of social distancing at a time of “national trial” in a fight against “deadly plague” of coronavirus.
“I am proud to lead the most ethnically diverse government in the history of this country, with two of the four major state offices held by a man and a woman of Indian descent … This country has made enormous progress, “he said. , with reference to Mr. Sunak and Ms. Patel.
“[But] I will not support those who flout the rules on social isolation, for the obvious reason that we are risking another infection at a critical time and just as we have made huge progress, “said the British Prime Minister.
35 police reported injuries following violent clashes at Black Lives Matter protests across the UK over the weekend, but visibly angry Patel went to the box House of Commons expedition to condemn “hooliganism”, which it declared “completely untenable”. “.
“These protests are about injustice, but in attacking our brave police, they are acting in a totally unjust manner,” she said.
Questioned by a member of the opposition Labor Party to find out whether the minister fully understood the “anger and frustration” felt by anti-racist demonstrators who protested the brutal murder of the African-American George Floyd in police custody, Ms. Patel responded with an angry response to tears in her eyes with references to her own experiences with racism because of her Indian heritage.
She replied: “On this basis, it must have been a very different interior minister who, as a child, was often called a Paki in the playground; a very different interior minister who was victim of racial violence in the street or even advised to drop his last name and use that of her husband to advance his career … so when it comes to racism, sexism, tolerance or social justice, I will not follow the lessons of those on the other side of the House. “
His Indian colleague colleague in the Cabinet, Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, sent a message to social media to reflect on the depth of the demonstrators’ feelings while acknowledging that racism still exists in Britain.
He said: “As a British Asian of course, I know there is racism in this country. And I know people are angry and frustrated. They want to see and feel the change.”
“But a better society does not happen overnight – like all great acts of creation, it happens slowly and depends on the cooperation of each of us towards this common goal.”
He condemned the “small minority” who had abandoned the fight against racism through acts of “violence and vandalism”.
“The truth is that we have created a country that is much more inclusive and fairer than at any time in its history. Does this mean that our history is over? No, but we must not ignore the hard work of the many generations that have gone before us, “he said.
Scotland Yard said a total of 36 people were arrested during protests in London for crimes including violent unrest, criminal damages and assault on the police.
Criminal damages involved the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill targeted with graffiti on Parliament Square in London.
Police described the incidents by a “minority” of violent protesters as “shameful” and said that a full investigation was underway to bring those responsible for the crimes to justice quickly.
