A new week

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Tuesday, 31 August 2010, 08:09

After a week in Bradford and the best part of two months working with the Yorkshire HOPE not hate team on the anti-EDL campaign it seems like today marks the start of a new chapter. The Yorkshire HOPE not hate team are planning to build on the fantastic links they've developed during the campaign but my focus is turning elsewhere.

I'm particularly excited by the relaunch of our magazine Searchlight, which comes out later this week. We've gone full colour and we have a new design. I think it really looks lovely.

I will just return to Bradford for one last comment. It's all too easy in my life to became jaded from the hatred of groups like the BNP and EDL. Sometimes the worst thing is that I become immune to their racism because I have to read so much of it and as a result I'm not often shocked. It is nice, however, to read positive comments about our campaign.

On Sunday I blogged about how several Asian families turned up at the police station, carrying trays of food, to thank the police for all their hard work. My blog was widely read and many posted comments on our facebook page. Here are just a few and it’s comments like these that make my job so enjoyable:

Fiona: “What a heartwarming blog post that is.”

Sabrina: “Aww, that's a warm and fuzzy story. Thanks for sharing.”

Sheila: “Good on the Muslim community for having the dignity not to stoop to the level of these inbred thugs. Let's keep fighting the fight folks. HOPE NOT HATE!! Xxxx”

Soban: “That's brought a proper lump to my throat!”El: “That has just made an otherwise rubbish day good. Thank you.”

Neil: “This shows that the communities can work together against hatemongers like the EDL. A very nice article :)”

Jill: “It sounds like a major positive of the day may have been an improvement in the relationship between the Asian communities and the police - let's hope it can be built on :)”