Statement on far-right violence in Bristol

Statement by Cllr Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council and Green Party Councillor for Southville ward, Bristol. 

Bristol is the city of my birth and it is a city of sanctuary. We are a tolerant and diverse city and we will stand together every time, when faced with violence, hatred, racism and Islamophobia.

Those who seek to divide us do so on the back of a false narrative. One that started with wrongly blaming an asylum seeker for the horrific attack in Southport, but has now led to racist attacks on our Muslim and black communities all over the country.

As a result, large numbers of our residents have been scared to leave their homes or visit our city centre.

We will not stand for this. We will show that the numbers of Bristolians who stand for peace and inclusion are far greater than those who spread violence and racism.

I am proud to represent this city, not simply because I was born here, but because of its ever-increasing willingness to stand up for what is right. My Green colleagues were out on Saturday supporting those coming under threat. Some of them also came under threat and were subjected to abuse.

I commend those who went out to peacefully protect vulnerable adults and children, and the values of our city. I am also grateful to the police and the emergency services who put themselves on the front line.

On Saturday, Bristol stood up to hatred, fear and injustice – just as it has done many times in the past and will continue to do in the future.