Bristol. We need to talk: Standing up to racist abuse
Statement from the Rising Team #WhoseFuture
#WhoseFuture has been incredible. It has felt seismic for our community and we have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback pouring in. We launched the campaign as a challenge to the city, and while we knew we were asking some difficult questions, we were excited to uplift the voices of Bristol’s young people.
But things have changed. Over the past week, the dialogue has shifted dramatically from one of collective joy to one of hatred and fear. A small minority of people have been targeting us and our young community—specifically the young Black women—with racist language and threats of violence. It has become hate crime.
We do not apologise for the content of our campaign. #WhoseFuture is an opportunity for historically underrepresented voices—the voices of young people—to be heard on a citywide scale. We will not censor ourselves, and we certainly will not censor young artists.
We also will not tolerate blatant and disgusting abuse.
To our community: we are here for you. We stand with you and if you have been made to feel unsafe please get in touch and we will do everything in our power to support and protect you.
To the city of Bristol, to our collaborators and supporters: This is your moment. We need you to stand with us against the hateful rhetoric which is threatening the safety of our city’s young people. If you call yourself an ally, if you value the lives of those that are different from you, we need you to speak up in condemnation of this hate-speech now and forever.
Stand in solidarity. Act in solidarity.
We are unapologetic.
The work continues.