Dealing with post-Brexit racial abuse

While this post will not discuss loyalty programmes in the usual manner, I hope it will serve to make travellers within and into the UK, more aware of what you may face and how you can deal with it appropriately.

In case you have not heard, last week saw the United Kingdom's public vote to leave the European Union. While the debate continues as to how and whether it will actually be implemented, the daily lives of thousands of ‘immigrants' are being made more substantially worse by the hostility of a discordant minority.

I use the term ‘immigrant' loosely, as being a non-caucasian British citizen who has lived there for nearly all my life, I appear to have been placed into that category too. Having been on the receiving end of some of this in recent times, I can fully empathise with those being targetted by Brexit racism.

(Don't forget that nearly half of the voting public voted ‘in'. The non-voting includes those eligible but didn't show up to the polling stations, those under age, and non-British citizens. We will never know which side the non-voting public would have taken.)

If you experience or witness any form of attack

If you can and it is safe to do so, you can film or take pictures the evidence and pass onto relevant authorities.

The telephone number for emergency services is 999 or 112. Either will work, and you should not feel embarrassed or hesitant to call for police if you feel your safety is in immediate danger.

For non-emergency issues you should dial 101 and report incidents to the police.

Pro-active measures

Wearing a #safetypin to show solidarity with EU citizens and immigrants here in the UK. #youarewelcomehere pic.twitter.com/dQ0sukN9t5

— Emma Pass (@EmmaPass) June 28, 2016

The humble safety pin has been trending as the movement of solidarity this last week. If you do feel unsafe or require extra re-assurance while travelling around the UK, try finding someone wearing one of these. The disclaimer is to exercise the normal care – after all, what is to stop a scam artist from wearing one too?

Other than standing up for racism, the next best thing is to carry on your daily routines as per normal. As of the time of writing, the UK has not implemented any laws to separate ties from the European Union so all EU citizens plus family members have the right (and not privilege) to be present in the UK for tourism or any other residential reason.

A final word

I want to finish by saying how heartbroken I am for those with non-British ancestry who is in the UK; is contemplating visiting the UK but feels a lesser desire to do so; or anyone else who experiences such hostility.  While the referendum result has indicated a preliminary ‘exit' position, it gives no legal or moral right for anyone to show hostility to ‘immigrants'. I deplore those who believe such behaviour is in any way constructive and urge everyone else to stand up against Brexit racism.