Local resident Shreena Patel reflects on a lifetime of witnessing racism evolve in East London, and explains why she’s now helping to lead the Wanstead and South Woodford Against Racism campaign
I was born in Leytonstone and I now live in Wanstead with my partner and two children. I am British-Asian, and for a small but vocal section of society, Britain is not my home and I do not belong here.
I grew up in East London in the 1980s and 1990s; my first experience of racist abuse was at aged five from someone in my class in primary school. The way racism manifested evolved as I grew up and it became socially unacceptable to be overtly racist. However, I feel that has shifted in the past few years, which is why I became involved in the Wanstead and South Woodford Against Racism campaign.
There has been a significant rise in far-right nationalism and populism in the United Kingdom over the past few years, which has been fuelled by the anti-immigrant rhetoric platformed by mainstream political parties. This has recently culminated with the largest far-right protest in Central London, and a campaign known as ‘Operation Raise the Colours’, which has seen St George and Union Jack flags illegally flying from lampposts. (The Highways Act 1980 prohibits placing or attaching anything to a public highway without consent and bans the placing of any items that could cause danger, obstruction or distraction.) Flags have also been painted on public structures across the country, including in South Woodford, Woodford, Epping and Leytonstone. This campaign has been positioned as an act of patriotism, but the intention is intimidation and division within communities. There has also been an uptick in race-related hate crimes nationally, which is reflected in the experiences of business owners and members of the public within Wanstead and Woodford.
Wanstead and South Woodford Against Racism is an initiative that was born from the broader campaign set up in Leytonstone in response to the St George’s Cross being illegally painted across the area. Wanstead and South Woodford Against Racism sets out to amplify the voices of the quiet majority that support and celebrate the existence of our diverse communities in East London.
As a starting point, we have rolled out a poster campaign to counter the far-right narrative and show that our communities will not stand for any form of racism across religious or ethnic lines. You may have seen our posters in shopfronts along the High Street in Wanstead and George Lane in South Woodford. We have had a huge, positive response from businesses, but we still have more to reach.
Our campaign is run by local volunteers and we are always looking for more people to get involved. Do get in touch if you would like to display a poster in your home or business.
The campaign is run by local volunteers and are looking for more people to get involved. Please contact wansteadagainstracism@gmail.com
If you would like to display a poster in your home, please visit the distribution hubs listed below. There is also have a GofundMe page if you would like to donate to support the activities www.gofundme.com/f/Wanstead-and-South-Woodford-Against-Racism
- Bare Brew, 7 High Street, London E11 2AA
- The Cuckfield, 31 High Street, London E11 2AA
- The Bull, 129 High Street, London E11 2RL
- Daisy, 121A High Street, London E11 2RL
- Harveys, 6 Clock House Parade, London E11 2AG
- Bal Beauty, Unit 1, The Cuckfield, Wellington Rd, London E11 2AL
- Touch of Class Drycleaners, 12a Station Parade, High Street Wanstead, London E11 1QF
- International Supermarket, 146-150 George Lane, E18 1AY
- XGadgets, 166 George Lane, E18 1AY
