Events Green Party News & Opinions
By Andy Rhodes & Shahab Adris – 25 July 2024
Harehills, Leeds – On the evening of Tuesday, 23rd July, Cllr Mothin Ali organised a community event to support the Harehills residents following the unrest of the previous week. With remarkable speed, Cllr Ali, alongside the Leeds Green Party and community groups, rallied a large number of residents and a diverse array of speakers to attend the gathering at St. Aidan’s Church.
By the time the first speakers took the stage, the church was nearly full.
Reverend Sally Osborn kicked off the event, followed by Pastor Dan, both stressing the importance of love and unity among Leeds residents.
Reverend Osborn elaborated, “When I speak of love, it is a complex thing which involves patience, healing, listening, and bravery.“
Cllr Mothin Ali received enthusiastic applause as he approached the lectern, a recognition of his efforts in calming community tensions the previous week. He posed a pivotal question: “What do we want to achieve?
Acknowledging the impressive turnout, he remarked, “We already have so many people, a rainbow of people, which is helping to break down barriers.” Cllr Ali praised the local Romani residents for their openness and the ‘unsung heroes’ who helped quell the unrest. He proposed a vision for Leeds as a city of belonging, “a city where everybody feels welcome, and we heal together.”
Cllr Ed Carlise offered another tangible opportunity to respond to any future events which need urgent attention in the form of a ‘Peacekeeping Force’, made up of credible community members across the city who can mobilise and engage with key stakeholders and communities.
Baroness Natalie Bennett first visited the scene of the fires in Harehills and where the Romani community have been gathering since 18th July, to observe the atmosphere and damage done before joining the gathering at St. Aidan’s.
She highlighted how positive the response has been by the locals and was amazed by the fact that no local businesses were affected, as is usually the case when riots occur.
Baroness Bennet also talked about the huge inequalities between communities which need urgently addressing, and the divisionary politics of the right-wing causing deeper fractures between communities.
She described how ‘belonging’ creates an environment of togetherness and unity and stated she felt that ‘City of Belonging’ was a powerful idea where everyone will be able to have a voice.
“A city of belonging must include the will to tackle inequality, to tackle hate speech, and to make sure everybody has their say”
– Baroness Natalie Bennett –
Romanian MP Antonio Andrusceac addressed the crowd, sharing the grievances of the Romanian community over the removal of children by social services and expressing solidarity with Palestinian families.
Andrusceac stressed the importance of unity, understanding, and respect. His heartfelt speech resonated with the audience, earning enthusiastic applause.
Green Councillor Ed Carlisle concluded the speaker segment, highlighting “the event as “testament to the community’s ability to come together.”
He proposed practical measures to prevent future crises, such as forming a Leeds Peacekeepers group of diverse, level-headed community members to counter conflicts peacefully. He also suggested creating an online resource for all communities and starting a local newspaper to reflect the voices of Harehills, Gipton, and East Leeds.”
The event allowed attendees to share their thoughts and questions, promoting dialogue among people from various backgrounds.
Representatives from local organisations, including West Yorkshire Fire Services, Catch, Junior Sports Hub, Harehills Neighbourhood Forum, and Nanu Sports Foundation, were present. Lutel James from Chapeltown Youth Development Centre stressed the need for ongoing meaningful engagement from politicians, local authorities, and the media, and not just talk about change but show change.
The event ended with a strong message of unity, love, and belonging. Community leaders such as Bishop Arun Arora, Bawa Siddique, and Green representation across West Yorkshire including Cllr Andrew Cooper, along with a wide range of activists, campaigners, and media representatives, also voiced their support.
The efforts of Cllr Mothin Ali and others to limit the damage on 18th July were widely praised with a thanks to all those who took part and with a feeling that action needs to be taken soon to make Leeds a true city of belonging.
By Andy Rhodes and Shahab Adris – 25 July 2024
Baroness Natalie Bennett & Leeds Green Party