The following letter from Metropolitan Police Commander Chishty, Community Policing, is an invitation to a community event this Sunday, 8th March, calling communities across London to unite against the terrorism threat and stand together without prejudice. It would be wonderful if you could join us and make this a truly special occasion.
“Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I would like to apologise for the short notice you have been given of this event this Sunday.
Following the indiscriminate attacks in Belgium, Paris and more recently Copenhagen, communities from all backgrounds have been left feeling less secure and more fearful. Whilst intelligence, security and policing services work tirelessly to safeguard and protect the country and all its communities, the possibility of a lone, self-starter terrorist cannot be ruled out. The national threat assessment reflects this position.
Jewish and Muslim communities in particular have become resigned to and expectant of a further attack. The strength of relationship between both these communities and their natural integration at neighbourhood street level has been well established over many generations and remains strong. Both of these faith communities have however faced and continue to grapple with the enduring and wide ranging impact of such terrorist attacks. Despite the decisive and swift response by government and police – doubt, concern and fear lingers, which is harming the quality of life within both communities.
It is against this backdrop that a campaign that symbolising that ‘we stand together’ has emerged.
‘We stand together’, means that all people, all neighbours and all communities of all colour, race, religion and belief unite and ‘stand together’, showing that;
- an attack on one community is an attack on the whole community
- communities are locked together by a tight bond of trust, respect and care for another and will not be divided by any form of terrorism or hate
- a strong unified message means that any attempt to create disharmony or fear is futile and will always be ineffective
- the community voice, feeling and expression occupies the central public space through media, art, music, literature, commentary, events, news etc and in doing so starves extremism of its life blood and oxygen
- we will denounce and repel radicalisation and hate at every point wherever it is found
I would like to invite you to join us in a launch event Sunday 8th March in the afternoon in Regents Park Mosque arriving at 1.30pm for a 2 p.m. start. Our intention is to show the world that we do indeed stand as one.
I look forward to seeing you there.