Democracy and Development Fellow in Public Health at the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Kwame Sarpong Asiedu has highlighted the underlying issues fueling racial tensions and anti-immigration protests in the United Kingdom.
According to Mr Asiedu, a significant part of the white population believes that immigrants are taking away their jobs, leading to growing resentment.
In an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday from the United Kingdom, he explained, “Blacks and other minorities are increasingly employed in various firms across the UK and are also well-represented in universities. This perception that immigrants are taking jobs from the native population is at the heart of the current unrest, and it’s a conversation that hasn’t been properly addressed.”
He noted that university campuses in the UK are seeing a shift in demographics, with more minorities, including blacks and Asians, enrolling in professional courses traditionally dominated by white students.
“If you look at the statistics, minorities are becoming more prominent in professional fields. This change is contributing to the anxiety among some white individuals who fear losing their jobs to immigrants,” Mr Asiedu stated.
Over the past week, these protests have become increasingly volatile, with some demonstrators resorting to violent actions, including setting ablaze hotel buildings where asylum seekers are being housed.
Some Ghanaians in the United Kingdom are unable to leave their homes for fear of being attacked by anti-immigration protesters demonstrating nationwide.
Read also : UK protests: Ghanaians fear attacks as violent demonstrations continue
Mr Asiedu shared a personal anecdote, recounting a conversation with his son studying in Southampton.
“I asked him what percentage of your class is white, in such a prestigious university and he was like the minorities are more there. This trend has been ongoing for a while and is becoming a growing concern.”
He emphasised that the far right is gaining momentum among the white working class, partly because of a misconception that if they leave their jobs, immigrants will replace them.
He explained that the conversation had not gone on properly.
“Even though there are unemployed people among both whites and ethnic minorities, there are still many job vacancies in the NHS that cannot be filled due to a lack of skilled workers,” he explained.
Mr Asiedu also pointed out that social media plays a significant role in spreading half-truths and inciting violence. “What has become more serious is that anti-far-right groups are now standing up to the far right.
In many of the current riots, you’ll see Muslims protecting their mosques and pro-immigration advocates confronting the far right, often with the police caught in the middle. This is where the situation becomes particularly dangerous. As it stands, the best advice is to avoid being on the streets after seven o’clock in known flashpoints, as these areas are being publicised. Eventually, I believe the government’s crackdown will bring the situation under control.
Looking ahead, he believes that government action will eventually quell the riots.
He explained that many of the instigators, whether active on social media or directly involved, would be arrested and imprisoned, which would disrupt the coordination of the riots.
However, he emphasised that it is crucial to address the underlying misconceptions driving the far right in order to achieve lasting peace. “That is how I see it,” he concludes.
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