Statement from Mayor of London re impact of Israel-Gaza conflict in London
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The last few weeks have been incredibly difficult for many Londoners, particularly those with family and friends in Israel and Gaza. We have all watched in absolute horror at the killing and suffering in Israel and Palestine and the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“There are clearly differing, passionate views within our communities, but we must not let events overseas lead to hate and division in our city.
“Over recent weeks we’ve seen an appalling rise in Islamophobia and antisemitism. As Mayor I’m determined to stamp out hate crime in our city - not only by ensuring the police take a zero-tolerance approach to these crimes, but by continuing to fund and support community-led groups to challenge hate.
“In London, we have invested almost £11m to help tackle hate and extremism, and today I’m meeting hundreds of young people and community leaders funded through my £3 million Shared Endeavour fund, which is working to empower thousands of Londoners to stand up to hate and intolerance.”
Notes to editors
Breakdown of groups funded by Mayor’s Shared Endeavour Fund who are attending the workshop in central London later today:
- Stand Up! Education Against Discrimination - This interfaith programme brings Jewish and Muslim facilitators into the school classroom to create a safe space for young people to explore and learn about issues of discrimination, racism and extremism. They provide expert advice and first-hand lived experience on the specific topics of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate. Workshop content is tailored to the specific local area through collaborations with leading counter-hate organisations such as Tell MAMA and the CST (Community Security Trust).
- Shout Out UK - InfoInsight: Raising Awareness to Combat Extremism - This project delivers a media literacy intervention to young people, which includes the key basic digital and media literacy knowledge required to develop practical and behavioural skills to enable participants to build resilience to online harms including disinformation. Participants will gain increased critical thinking skills as well as a greater understanding of the resources and public support available to safeguard themselves and their peers from hate, intolerance and online radicalisation.
- Future Leaders - This 24-week, award winning leadership programme will be delivered to college-aged students across the North, South, East and West of London. The project develops young people’s skills, confidence and aspirations though exposure to inspirational speakers, workshops, team building days and visits. Participants will become peer leaders in challenging all forms of hate and intolerance and will develop individual inoculation to radicalisation as well as an ability to identify vulnerability in others.
- Protection Approaches – London's Active Upstanders - This project will train Londoners to become ‘active upstanders,’ empowering them to actively, confidently and safely challenge intolerant, hateful and extremist attitudes and behaviours. The workshops cover: how to de-escalate hateful incidents safely; strategies for engaging those who hold hateful views; how to safely challenge online hate; and community building as a long-term means to confronting intolerant views.
- Chelsea FC Foundation – Standing Together - Using the power of the Chelsea FC brand alongside access to facilities and resources that will truly inspire participants, this project will empower young Londoners to reject hate and give them the confidence to stand up to intolerance. The project will work with secondary school-aged young people by delivering assemblies and supporting teachers to facilitate discussions on racism, hate, intolerance and extremism. This will be followed by more focussed online workshops which expand the learning out to critical thinking, media prejudice and allyship. Beneficiaries will then be invited to Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium to participate in a day of thematic workshops, learning and peer to peer knowledge sharing.
Further information on the Mayor’s Shared Endeavour Fund can be found here: https://www.groundwork.org.uk/london/shared-endeavour-fund/