Statement Regarding the Extremist Actions in Bristol

We, the undersigned affirm our collective commitment to peace, compassion, and justice.

As representatives of diverse faith and belief communities, as well as secular organisations from across Bristol, we are shocked and saddened by the violence and harassment that has taken place in Bristol and the rest of the UK over the last few days. We stand united in our condemnation of the actions of extremist groups. There is no place in our city for racism, anti-Muslim hate or violence against asylum seekers and refugees. 

These extremist actions were sparked by mass disinformation being spread about a tragic incident in Southport. We hold the three children – Alice, Bebe and Elsie – who were killed in Southport, those who grieve them deeply, and all who have been affected by these events, in our heartfelt prayers and thoughts.

As a community, we were horrified by the scenes that unfolded last Saturday at Castle Park, outside the Mercure Hotel in Redcliffe and across other parts of Bristol. We stand in solidarity with the people wholocked arms at the entrance to the hotel to protect the asylum seekers and refugees from violence. We stand together with thousands of people who gathered yesterday in Old Market to send a clear message that extremism is not welcome in our city.

These hate-filled acts of racism and intimidation towards Muslim and refugee and asylum seeker communities are a direct affront to the core values of love, compassion, justice, and the inherent dignity ofevery human being, that we uphold as a City of Sanctuary. In our rejection of hate and in our shared humanity and faith, we are united in solidarity with each other and in solidarity with the most vulnerable in our society.

We stand united with people of every ethnicity and belief. We share the conviction that there is one race, the human race. We stand united with asylum seekers and refugees, as those who are among the most vulnerable in our land. Each of our communities and faiths emphasises this duty of care and service through which we discover the beautiful gift that strangers and newcomers are to us.

In the face of it all, we stand firm together as the city of Bristol in all its diversity to reaffirm our commitment to a community where everyone can live free from fear and discrimination, as we look ahead with hope towards working together to heal the wounds of the past. We will overcome the forces that seek to divide us and we will continue to build a city marked by love, compassion, and hope.

Signed

8 August 2024

The Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol

Adeela Shafi, Bristol Muslim Strategic Leadership Group

Amal Ali and Sedef Ahmad, Muslim representatives, Bristol Inter-Faith Group

Council of Bristol Hebrew Congregation Chrissie Hackett,Bristol Humanists

Gen Kelsang Lamchen, Resident Teacher, Amitabha Kadampa Buddhist Centre GeorgeMazidian, Bahai representative, Bristol Inter-Faith Group

Javinder Singh, Sikh representative, Bristol Inter-Faith Group Mohamed El Sharif, Muslims4Bristol

Pandit Kamlesh Vyas, Priest of the Bristol Hindu community Pelwatte Dhammananda, Bristol Buddhist Vihara

The Revd Mandy Briggs, John Wesley’s New Room The Very RevdDr Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol

Rabbi Monique Mayer, Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation

Fr Richard McKay, St Nicholas of Tolentino Church Richard Drake, Clerk, Bristol Area Quaker Meeting

The Revd Dr Simon Edwards, Deputy Chair of the Bristol Methodist District Professor Shawn Hailemariam Sobers, Bristol Rastafarian Community

Shiv Sama, Avon Indian Community Association and South Glos Multifaith Forum The Revd Sally Spencer, Bristol and South Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit Susana Askew, Bristol Cityof Sanctuary

Tahir Mahood and Zaheer Shabir, Council of Bristol Mosques