Lib Dem MEP condemns violent attacks against EU citizens in the UK
By Catherine Bearder, Liberal Democrat MEP for South East England
Plese find below a speech to the European Parliament, by Liberal Democrat/ALDE MEP Catherine Bearder on racism and xenophobia in the UK
We all know Niemöllers poem.
First they came for the Communists, the Socialists, the Jews and how he lamented that he had not spoken out for them,
there was no one left to speak for him.
This was Europe 65 years ago. But now see that we must speak out again.
When it happens to 'the other', whoever they are.
In June the UK had the most divisive referendum campaigns.
Our Equality and Human Rights Commission said that the referendum campaign had, I quote "legitimised hate".
During the campaign a young MP, doing her job was shot and stabbed to death, by a man consumed with hate,
who shockingly on his conviction was supported by 60k tweets.
2 months after the EU referendum, Mr Arek Jóźwik, a Polish national was assaulted and killed by six teenagers in what was believed to be a hate crime.
In the week following the Brexit result, reported hate crime incidents rose by 58% compared to the year before.
But its not just in the UK, Politicians and leaders on both sides of the Atlantic and across the Union are again pedalling hate and fear.
It gives permission to others who feed on this bile, or who are deranged enough to think that this is acceptable
Many EU citizens living in the UK are very scared, as are those seeking refuge or who have migrated elsewhere in the EU.
What has the UKs government's response been?
to ask companies to report to them their foreign-born employees - what message is that sending?
That is not the Britain I know.
The Britain I know is outward-looking, decent and tolerant.
The Britain I know stands up for everyone, no matter what's your skin colour, what's your language, who you love or worship.
and it was this ethos that founded the European Union, as they recovered from the horrors as Niemollers wrote his poem
But in this sea of rising intolerance there are small glimmers of hope. After the death of Mr Jozwik, the Polish centre in London was deluged with flowers and messages of sympathy.
Brexit or no Brexit, racist, homophobic and hateful speech must be publicly and forecably condemned by all; and I as a Liberal Democrat will continue to do just this.