Kent community group says its members are afraid to go outside
The founder of a Kent community group that looks to support elderly South Asian people, says she's been deeply affected by the 'open acts of racism' we're seeing across the country. Mahima Abedin reports.
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00:00Have you ever felt like you can't leave your home simply because of what you look like?
00:05Well it's one that many people including the South Asian community across Kent are currently feeling.
00:10Paramjot started the Sahara Foundation back in 2020 with the aim of making the elderly South Asian community feel welcome.
00:17It's a real shame because I started Sahara because I wanted people to feel a sense of belonging
00:22and I feel like the things that are happening now just completely take away from that.
00:26People have said they feel scared to go out and also that it reminds them of older times.
00:32Times when being excluded was the norm.
00:35These people have worked quietly and diligently their whole lives
00:38and the fact that they should now feel again like it's unsafe for them to go out,
00:42like the message is clear that they have no place here, is disgraceful.
00:48Paramjot grew up here in Chatham and she's just been showing me pictures of herself from when she was younger.
00:53But she says it's not always been easy with people making racist remarks towards her all because of the colour of her skin.
00:59I was born and bred in Chatham and still I feel like there is no place for me here
01:04because of the colour of my skin or whatever I might present as.
01:08At school racism when I was growing up was very open.
01:12There were one or two non-white people in the school including me and my brother.
01:17We'd have parents saying things to us, we'd have people shouting things to us.
01:22As we walked down the streets and yet here we are now back here again.
01:26While political leaders across the country are condemning the violent behaviour and unrest we've seen in the past week,
01:31charities like Diversity House which promotes community integration are urging people to come together to show unity.
01:38I want everybody in our communities, in our nation, no matter their age, their race, their gender, their religious affiliation,
01:48whatever it is, I want them to remember that we are human beings and that we should care for one another.
01:55And I urge everybody to come together because we can only address issues if we communicate properly.
02:03In a statement from Kent Police, Chief Superintendent Shaun White said
02:07there is no place in society for crimes motivated by hatred towards someone because of their faith or the colour of their skin.
02:13And that Kent Police take all such incidents very seriously.
02:17Every person in Kent should feel safe to go about their daily business without being subjected to prejudicial behaviour.
02:23While those rioting and protesting take to the streets, others are staying vigilant waiting for this to come to an end.
02:30Mahima Abedin for KMTV in Chatham.