Many organisations condemned the rise in racist incidents that was reported following the EU Referendum on 23 June 2016.
The Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said ‘Reports that some individuals are hijacking the referendum result to promote racism, hate and division are extremely worrying and should be widely condemned’ (statement on 27 June).
The Director of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) expressed concern about the reported rise of hate incidents in the United Kingdom (statement on 30 June).
The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) said that it is ‘extremely concerned by numerous reports of racist speech and attacks aimed at Polish, Muslim and other Black and ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom, following the EU referendum vote for Brexit. UK leaders must strongly respond to and publicly condemn these incidents, as well as prevent a further rise in hate crimes’ (statement on 27 June).
Runnymede’s Director, Dr Omar Khan, called on politicians, the media and local communities to unite in the face of rising racist and xenophobic hate crimes following the EU Referendum (statement on 30 June).
