THIS week marks Greater Manchester Hate Crime Awareness Week.
Oldham council and its partners are raising awareness throughout the week, of the impact hate can have on people’s lives.
Workshops and information sessions have been organised by community groups, encouraging people to report hate crimes and also letting people know where they can receive support.
Partners involved include Oldham Personal Advocacy Limited (OPAL), Future Directions CIC, Oldham Play Action Group, Together, Petrus Community and The Flowhesion Foundation.
Greater Manchester Police will also be hosting a number of information stalls across the borough, where people can talk to officers in person about their own experiences.
Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “Hate crime ruins lives and it has no place in our borough.
“Every Oldhamer should be able to live their life without the fear of being abused, threatened or attacked just because of who they are.
“Tackling hate crime is everyone’s responsibility and we all need to do our bit and stand up to hatred. By doing so, we’ll show our support for victims and hopefully help put an end to their suffering.
“If you are experiencing hate, or you know someone who is, please report it to the police. Don’t let someone get away with abuse.”
Hate crime is an act of violence or hostility that is directed at a person or group because of who they are or what they think they are.
It comes in many different forms such as physical attacks, a threat of attack and verbal abuse or insults, and anyone can be affected by such incidents.
Unfortunately, many hate crimes go unreported. If you have been affected by a hate crime, even if you’re unsure that you’ve been a victim, it is important to speak to someone.
In an emergency call 999 and in a non-emergency call 101 or go to a nearby police station and report it.
Extra support is also available through the Stop Hate Helpline on 0800 138 1625 – a free confidential 24-hour hate crime reporting service.
For more information on hate crime please visit www.oldham.gov.uk/hatecrime.
Imaginary problems, (largely speaking or at least in our experience,) always have imaginary solutions, “hate crime, (Thought Crime,) has become a highly convenient catch all slander to be thrown at anyone at all who disagrees with, “us,” for whatever reason or who dissents from, “our, ” narrative.
In exactly the same way that denouncing someone as a witch or as communist, (an anti-vaxer,) etc could to be used to frustrate any serious debate with them about any serious and sometimes difficult topic.
I’m not arguing that racism for example, exists, (nor is it confined only to the too familiar stereotypes; far from it,) but my own experiences of living in Oldham for nearly 50 years, including going through the riots; is that it’s a issue that’s being massively exaggerated and over politicized for that very useful reason.
“Fear of serious injury alone cannot justify oppression of free speech and assembly. Men feared witches and burned women, It is the function of free speech to free men from bondage and irrational fears. “
Your viewpoint is one of privilege, and to diminish hate crimes into an imaginary construct to prevent open debate is gobsmackingly myopic.
You’re dammed by you own assumptions; because if you knew anything whatsoever about me personally or about our circumstances you’d realize immediately just how uninformed and how, “gobsmackingly,” divorced from reality your comment above actually is.
But then people do love cheap stereotypes.
“I’m not arguing that racism for example, exists,” should have read, I’m not arguing that racism for example, does not exist.