Vigil against islamophobic attack in North Ealing
Sat 07 Sep 2019In that attack, as has been widely reported in the press, two Muslim women, a mother in her 60s, and her daughter, in her 30s, were racially abused and then attacked by a white woman, in front of daughter’s two kids ( 6 and 3 years).
Mother has been left with broken ribs and the daughter with bruises and internal bleeding. The children were left frightened and traumatised. The police are hunting for the culprit.
Up to 150 people from all parts of the West London community came to stand together as one.
The speakers included local MP Rupa Huq, Ealing NEU Secretary Stefan Simms, Councillor Sitarah Anjum, local CofE vicar Simon, the imam from Acton mosque, , Councillor Aysha Raza, Meena Patel (Southall Black Sisters), Ealing Trades Council's Eve Turner.
There were many more speakers including Ali, the son and brother of the two women who were attacked.
Some of the other people present were Mayor of Ealing Councillor Dr. Abdullah Gulaid, Councillor Hitesh Tailor, Councillor Tariq Mahmood and Dalawar Chaudhry.
Balwinder Rana, organiser of the protest, said, "We blame Boris Johnson for this cowardly, racist attack. After he compared Muslim women to ‘letter boxes’ and ‘bank robbers’, Islamophobic attacks have gone up by more than 375%, according to Tell MAMA."
"Recent rise in racism is coming from top of the society, from the likes of Trump, Farage and Johnson. Daily demonising of Muslims, migrants and asylum seekers is having its effect and Muslim women are suffering most. It has also led to attacks like the one on Finsbury Park Mosque, or at the Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand."
He further added, "We must unite all the right-minded people against these attacks and not let the racists divide us. Thus we urge all people to come and join our protest so we can send out a clear message of unity and show the racists that we shall stand shoulder to shoulder and not let the racists win."
Images supplied by West London Stand Up To Racism
If you have a local news story, share it with the rest of Southall, by using the contact form.