On the 27th of May, the Race Equality Foundation released a critical report titled Understanding the Racist Riots of 2024 and What Should Be Done. The report highlights how the UK government has failed to address the underlying causes of the summer 2024 riots, which saw widespread racist violence targeting minoritised ethnic and religious communities.
Despite initial efforts to suppress the violence, the report warns that the conditions leading to the riots – such as escalating racialised hate, Islamophobia, anti-migrant rhetoric, economic marginalisation, and institutional failures – remain unchallenged. These factors created a toxic environment where violence against minoritised communities was inevitable but preventable.
The Race Equality Foundation calls for immediate policy action to prevent future incidents, including:
- Developing and monitoring a clear definition of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate
- Implementing a public health approach to violence prevention
- Ensuring anti-racism efforts involve directly affected communities
- Enforcing zero tolerance for racism in public institutions, particularly the NHS
- Coordinating national and local responses to serious violent disorder
- Promoting media literacy and countering disinformation
The report underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and sustained action to address these systemic issues and prevent further violence.
For more information and to access the full report, visit the Race Equality Foundation's website here