“This Hate Crime Awareness Week, I want to reaffirm Kingston’s commitment to being a safe, supportive and welcoming borough for all. Kingston is a friendly and inclusive borough, where we value and champion diversity, and challenge discrimination in all its forms.
“Through our work to deliver our Inclusive Kingston strategy, and our work with partners and communities across the borough - including Kingston Race and Equalities Council, Stop Hate UK and the Met Police - we are committed to ensuring hate crime is not tolerated here.
“We work closely with the Kingston Faith and Belief Forum to support and celebrate communities, and to foster connection, conversation and friendship.
At the end of September, the Faith and Belief Forum issued a statement of togetherness and unity. I echo their words, that hatred and intolerance have no place in our communities.
As they so eloquently say,
by coming together, we can strengthen the bonds between us, protect what makes Kingston unique, and encourage greater understanding across all of our communities.
I fully endorse their words that
everyone should feel that they belong in Kingston, regardless of background or belief. We encourage our residents and communities to stand with us against hate and division, and to celebrate the diversity that makes our borough so vibrant.
Today it is as important as ever that we continue to work together to ensure our borough is a place where all our diverse communities are celebrated and embraced, and every voice is valued. Hate has no home in Kingston
There are a number of activities taking place across the week:
- We are supporting the Stop Hate UK campaign
- We are encouraging partners and community groups to sign the Hate Crime Community Pledge, recognising we all have a part to play in tackling hate and discrimination.
- We are holding a stall with the police to raise awareness of what hate crime is and how to report it - Thursday 16 October, Eden Walk in Kingston, 12 - 1.30pm
If you have experienced or witnessed hate crime, please don’t stay silent - report it and help keep Kingston safe for all. You can find guidance and report hate crime on the council website.