Walsall racism claims: Community leaders say 'frightening' atmosphere of xenophobia after Brexit
Community leaders have lashed out at the 'frightening' atmosphere of racism and xenophobia in Walsall that they say has arisen since the EU referendum campaign.
Councillors today described the change in mood, with people now allegedly being openly racist, and they have raised concerns that this could escalate into violence.
One councillor told the Express & Star of an incident where children had been racially abused and sworn at in the street.
Councillor Richard Worrall, said he had noted a change in the way residents were speaking in his Rushall/Shelfield ward speaking.
He said: "What I am finding with people from my ward is that they are bringing small problems to me that are totally unrelated to immigration and ethnicity but pinning it on that.
"After the referendum people seem to think they are free to say stuff like 'it's because of gipsies' or 'its because of Muslims' and that's frightening and so unnecessary. We are all members of the human race.
"It is going to take a number of years and a lot of hard work to reverse the mood.
"If this is not stamped out then it will lead to violence."
Councillor Doug James also moved to condemn the 'totally unacceptable' racism and xenophobia that is on the rise in the borough.
He said: "Clearly we had the petrol bomb in Pleck, the police have made a statement saying it wasn't racially targeted but I must query that because we haven't seen any evidence to suggest otherwise.
"I am very concerned. A meeting is taking place tonight with the We Are Walsall community group to look at re-uniting communities. We want people to fight against the racism and xenophobia in Walsall - we are not having it.
"The campaigns for the EU Referendum have given credence to a minority view that racism and xenophobia is acceptable. Its got to be stopped. If its not then we are going to veer towards fascism and an increase in violence in Walsall, which of course is totally unacceptable.
"I have heard of children being sworn at in the street."
Former councillor and cabinet member and now prominent community leader Mohammed Arif said the tensions were high in the borough, but that it had quietened down following the immediate aftermath of the Brexit vote.
