on the evening of the 22nd of May last year I’m sure most of you will remember
year I’m sure most of you will remember
year I’m sure most of you will remember where you were I was lying in bed and as
where you were I was lying in bed and as
where you were I was lying in bed and as I’m sure many of you do I was staring
I’m sure many of you do I was staring
I’m sure many of you do I was staring blankly into my smartphone I was about
blankly into my smartphone I was about
blankly into my smartphone I was about to go to sleep when I noticed a sort of
to go to sleep when I noticed a sort of
to go to sleep when I noticed a sort of flurry of messages and tweets start to
flurry of messages and tweets start to
flurry of messages and tweets start to pop up about an accident of some kind in
pop up about an accident of some kind in
pop up about an accident of some kind in the city center banger collision
the city center banger collision
the city center banger collision something like that with social media
something like that with social media
something like that with social media being social media it was mostly just
being social media it was mostly just
being social media it was mostly just guesswork and speculation from everybody
guesswork and speculation from everybody
guesswork and speculation from everybody no one really knew what was going on I’d
no one really knew what was going on I’d
no one really knew what was going on I’d been in the city a few years ago when
been in the city a few years ago when
been in the city a few years ago when the riots had happened and I’d seen the
the riots had happened and I’d seen the
the riots had happened and I’d seen the effects of this kind of guesswork and
effects of this kind of guesswork and
effects of this kind of guesswork and speculation when the facts won’t really
speculation when the facts won’t really
speculation when the facts won’t really know I voiced my opinion and I’ve had it
know I voiced my opinion and I’ve had it
know I voiced my opinion and I’ve had it swearing but what I said was I’d sent a
swearing but what I said was I’d sent a
swearing but what I said was I’d sent a tweet out saying explosions or bangs of
tweet out saying explosions or bangs of
tweet out saying explosions or bangs of some kind happening at Victoria Station
some kind happening at Victoria Station
some kind happening at Victoria Station idiots were already tweeting
idiots were already tweeting
idiots were already tweeting misinformation and conjecture shut up I
misinformation and conjecture shut up I
misinformation and conjecture shut up I hit Send put my phone in silent and went
hit Send put my phone in silent and went
hit Send put my phone in silent and went to sleep and when I woke up I grabbed my
to sleep and when I woke up I grabbed my
to sleep and when I woke up I grabbed my phone to check the time it was about
phone to check the time it was about
phone to check the time it was about 6:00 in the morning and it became very
6:00 in the morning and it became very
6:00 in the morning and it became very obvious straight away that something was
obvious straight away that something was
obvious straight away that something was quite wrong I had hundreds and hundreds
quite wrong I had hundreds and hundreds
quite wrong I had hundreds and hundreds of messages and tweets and dozens of
of messages and tweets and dozens of
of messages and tweets and dozens of missed calls from numbers I didn’t
missed calls from numbers I didn’t
missed calls from numbers I didn’t recognize and it quickly became apparent
recognize and it quickly became apparent
recognize and it quickly became apparent that the worst of the rumors from last
that the worst of the rumors from last
that the worst of the rumors from last night had been true there had been a
night had been true there had been a
night had been true there had been a terrorist attack in Manchester and the
terrorist attack in Manchester and the
terrorist attack in Manchester and the reason that I had been bombarded with so
reason that I had been bombarded with so
reason that I had been bombarded with so many messages was that my younger
many messages was that my younger
many messages was that my younger brother Martin had been at the concert
brother Martin had been at the concert
brother Martin had been at the concert and was missing he’d been at the ariana
and was missing he’d been at the ariana
and was missing he’d been at the ariana grande concert and I initially I was
grande concert and I initially I was
grande concert and I initially I was confused because I will admit fully that
confused because I will admit fully that
confused because I will admit fully that I had never heard of ariana grande I’m
I had never heard of ariana grande I’m
I had never heard of ariana grande I’m sorry
sorry
sorry and for a little while I thought it was
and for a little while I thought it was
and for a little while I thought it was one of his friends called Ariana Grande
one of his friends called Ariana Grande
one of his friends called Ariana Grande and it was like have you tried he was if
and it was like have you tried he was if
and it was like have you tried he was if he was ariana grande’s why don’t you
he was ariana grande’s why don’t you
he was ariana grande’s why don’t you ring Gary Hanna
ring Gary Hanna
ring Gary Hanna we should we knock at her house like
we should we knock at her house like
we should we knock at her house like anything and so what had happened was
anything and so what had happened was
anything and so what had happened was that the explosion had happened at the
that the explosion had happened at the
that the explosion had happened at the very end of the concert after had
very end of the concert after had
very end of the concert after had finished and the last suite the he’d
finished and the last suite the he’d
finished and the last suite the he’d sent we were both prolific Twitter
sent we were both prolific Twitter
sent we were both prolific Twitter abuses
abuses
abuses he wrote a tweet about half-past ten
he wrote a tweet about half-past ten
he wrote a tweet about half-past ten complaining that he’d stuck to the
complaining that he’d stuck to the
complaining that he’d stuck to the toilet during a Macy Gray cover and he
toilet during a Macy Gray cover and he
toilet during a Macy Gray cover and he was moaning that everybody else had had
was moaning that everybody else had had
was moaning that everybody else had had the same idea and that was the last we
the same idea and that was the last we
the same idea and that was the last we heard that day for me and so many people
heard that day for me and so many people
heard that day for me and so many people in this city turned into the longest day
in this city turned into the longest day
in this city turned into the longest day I will ever enjoy my family were rushed
I will ever enjoy my family were rushed
I will ever enjoy my family were rushed with all the other families to the
with all the other families to the
with all the other families to the Etihad football stadium where the police
Etihad football stadium where the police
Etihad football stadium where the police had set up an emergency zone I stayed at
had set up an emergency zone I stayed at
had set up an emergency zone I stayed at home sat on the floor surrounded by
home sat on the floor surrounded by
home sat on the floor surrounded by computers laptops tablets scouring news
computers laptops tablets scouring news
computers laptops tablets scouring news fees for any trace any update had the TV
fees for any trace any update had the TV
fees for any trace any update had the TV news on in the background I was sending
news on in the background I was sending
news on in the background I was sending out his photograph to everybody we just
out his photograph to everybody we just
out his photograph to everybody we just it was just a state of complete panic at
it was just a state of complete panic at
it was just a state of complete panic at the same time my life also became a
the same time my life also became a
the same time my life also became a rolling battle with fairly aggressive
rolling battle with fairly aggressive
rolling battle with fairly aggressive journalists who swamped me with requests
journalists who swamped me with requests
journalists who swamped me with requests for information and for interviews and
for information and for interviews and
for information and for interviews and that sort of thing so we’re going from
that sort of thing so we’re going from
that sort of thing so we’re going from nought to maximum intensity very very
nought to maximum intensity very very
nought to maximum intensity very very quickly a couple turned up my place of
quickly a couple turned up my place of
quickly a couple turned up my place of work as if as if I’d be there and one
work as if as if I’d be there and one
work as if as if I’d be there and one came to my house and pushed a note under
came to my house and pushed a note under
came to my house and pushed a note under the door asking if you get him an
the door asking if you get him an
the door asking if you get him an interview bear in mind this doesn’t seem
interview bear in mind this doesn’t seem
interview bear in mind this doesn’t seem very much now but at the time is any
very much now but at the time is any
very much now but at the time is any knock could have been the police or
knock could have been the police or
knock could have been the police or worse you know by late afternoon we’d
worse you know by late afternoon we’d
worse you know by late afternoon we’d been able to pinpoint his location
been able to pinpoint his location
been able to pinpoint his location fairly well through other people’s
fairly well through other people’s
fairly well through other people’s photographs there were just dozens of
photographs there were just dozens of
photographs there were just dozens of photos of him dancing and drinking and
photos of him dancing and drinking and
photos of him dancing and drinking and partying we knew kind of where he’d been
partying we knew kind of where he’d been
partying we knew kind of where he’d been but we’d not heard anything official as
but we’d not heard anything official as
but we’d not heard anything official as evening drew in we my sisters and I were
evening drew in we my sisters and I were
evening drew in we my sisters and I were bundled into a police car and we were
bundled into a police car and we were
bundled into a police car and we were rushed to the entire stadium with blue
rushed to the entire stadium with blue
rushed to the entire stadium with blue lights on sirens blaring the traffic
lights on sirens blaring the traffic
lights on sirens blaring the traffic passing in front of us a few very
passing in front of us a few very
passing in front of us a few very difficult hours later and all left the
difficult hours later and all left the
difficult hours later and all left the stadium together as a family
stadium together as a family
stadium together as a family carrying the heartbreaking knowledge
carrying the heartbreaking knowledge
carrying the heartbreaking knowledge that Martin had been identified as one
that Martin had been identified as one
that Martin had been identified as one of the 22 people who’d been killed that
of the 22 people who’d been killed that
of the 22 people who’d been killed that day the next
day the next
day the next few days were unbelievably difficult for
few days were unbelievably difficult for
few days were unbelievably difficult for everybody but the way the city rallied
everybody but the way the city rallied
everybody but the way the city rallied together was completely incredible and I
together was completely incredible and I
together was completely incredible and I received more messages of support than I
received more messages of support than I
received more messages of support than I could possibly ever respond to I stood
could possibly ever respond to I stood
could possibly ever respond to I stood with the rest of you and watched Tony
with the rest of you and watched Tony
with the rest of you and watched Tony Walsh hold the city at a complete
Walsh hold the city at a complete
Walsh hold the city at a complete standstill with that electric reading of
standstill with that electric reading of
standstill with that electric reading of this is the place I stood onstage a few
this is the place I stood onstage a few
this is the place I stood onstage a few days later the Deaf Institute sold out
days later the Deaf Institute sold out
days later the Deaf Institute sold out benefit concert trying not to crap cry
benefit concert trying not to crap cry
benefit concert trying not to crap cry in front of the crowd as I sort of
in front of the crowd as I sort of
in front of the crowd as I sort of thanks the city in some way from the
thanks the city in some way from the
thanks the city in some way from the bottom of my heart really um I really
bottom of my heart really um I really
bottom of my heart really um I really feel that the true character of a place
feel that the true character of a place
feel that the true character of a place in his people comes out in a crisis and
in his people comes out in a crisis and
in his people comes out in a crisis and I can honestly say I’ve never been more
I can honestly say I’ve never been more
I can honestly say I’ve never been more fiercely proud to be from this city now
fiercely proud to be from this city now
fiercely proud to be from this city now all of these experiences there’s one
all of these experiences there’s one
all of these experiences there’s one particular one I feel it’s important for
particular one I feel it’s important for
particular one I feel it’s important for me to tell you about it was a few weeks
me to tell you about it was a few weeks
me to tell you about it was a few weeks after everything happened and the police
after everything happened and the police
after everything happened and the police reached out to the family to say that we
reached out to the family to say that we
reached out to the family to say that we would be possible to reach so to visit
would be possible to reach so to visit
would be possible to reach so to visit the arena it was still closed so the
the arena it was still closed so the
the arena it was still closed so the police had control of it and many family
police had control of it and many family
police had control of it and many family said no and many members of my family
said no and many members of my family
said no and many members of my family said no to is a very personal decision
said no to is a very personal decision
said no to is a very personal decision ultimately I decided that I had to know
ultimately I decided that I had to know
ultimately I decided that I had to know I had to see so a few days later I found
I had to see so a few days later I found
I had to see so a few days later I found myself with a few members of my family
myself with a few members of my family
myself with a few members of my family on a average rainy manchester afternoon
on a average rainy manchester afternoon
on a average rainy manchester afternoon standing in the empty and completely
standing in the empty and completely
standing in the empty and completely silent lobby of the Manchester Arena
silent lobby of the Manchester Arena
silent lobby of the Manchester Arena every surface around me was marked by an
every surface around me was marked by an
every surface around me was marked by an uncountable number of shrapnel impacts
uncountable number of shrapnel impacts
uncountable number of shrapnel impacts every glass panel was shattered every
every glass panel was shattered every
every glass panel was shattered every stone wall tile cracked every bit of
stone wall tile cracked every bit of
stone wall tile cracked every bit of metal in the place was punctured and
metal in the place was punctured and
metal in the place was punctured and marked on the floor around me Oh in fact
marked on the floor around me Oh in fact
marked on the floor around me Oh in fact though there was one takeaway image that
though there was one takeaway image that
though there was one takeaway image that will stay with me
will stay with me
will stay with me completely above me there was a single
completely above me there was a single
completely above me there was a single security camera looking down at the
security camera looking down at the
security camera looking down at the center of the room and it’s single s
center of the room and it’s single s
center of the room and it’s single s lens had been shattered by a piece of
lens had been shattered by a piece of
lens had been shattered by a piece of shrapnel and the whole experience was
shrapnel and the whole experience was
shrapnel and the whole experience was images like that that will just stay
images like that that will just stay
images like that that will just stay with you around me on the floor were 22
with you around me on the floor were 22
with you around me on the floor were 22 red roses spread out around the center
red roses spread out around the center
red roses spread out around the center of the attacker I knelt on the floor and
of the attacker I knelt on the floor and
of the attacker I knelt on the floor and put my hand on the polished floor tiles
put my hand on the polished floor tiles
put my hand on the polished floor tiles and underneath my hand the floor sort of
and underneath my hand the floor sort of
and underneath my hand the floor sort of gave way to rough recessed stone and I
gave way to rough recessed stone and I
gave way to rough recessed stone and I knew this to be the exact spot that the
knew this to be the exact spot that the
knew this to be the exact spot that the bomb had been detonated the 22 red roses
bomb had been detonated the 22 red roses
bomb had been detonated the 22 red roses were spread around this point most were
were spread around this point most were
were spread around this point most were in concentric circles around
in concentric circles around
in concentric circles around tacker one or two works impossibly far
tacker one or two works impossibly far
tacker one or two works impossibly far away one of the candles about seven feet
away one of the candles about seven feet
away one of the candles about seven feet away so perhaps from here so there had a
away so perhaps from here so there had a
away so perhaps from here so there had a small candle burning next to it placed
small candle burning next to it placed
small candle burning next to it placed there by the police and I knew the rose
there by the police and I knew the rose
there by the police and I knew the rose that marks where my brother have been
that marks where my brother have been
that marks where my brother have been found now the reason that I’ve described
found now the reason that I’ve described
found now the reason that I’ve described the scene to you today in such detail is
the scene to you today in such detail is
the scene to you today in such detail is that it’s important for me to get across
that it’s important for me to get across
that it’s important for me to get across that I’ve seen in a very literal sense
that I’ve seen in a very literal sense
that I’ve seen in a very literal sense the the devastation that happens when an
the the devastation that happens when an
the the devastation that happens when an attack of this nature happens um it’s
attack of this nature happens um it’s
attack of this nature happens um it’s impossible to comprehend the scale and
impossible to comprehend the scale and
impossible to comprehend the scale and ferocity of an attack until you’ve stood
ferocity of an attack until you’ve stood
ferocity of an attack until you’ve stood in the center of the aftermath and I’d
in the center of the aftermath and I’d
in the center of the aftermath and I’d not consider what it would look like but
not consider what it would look like but
not consider what it would look like but it was completely overwhelming well
it was completely overwhelming well
it was completely overwhelming well despite having been witness to this
despite having been witness to this
despite having been witness to this destruction what I’ve learned through my
destruction what I’ve learned through my
destruction what I’ve learned through my experiences since that day is that the
experiences since that day is that the
experiences since that day is that the true damage of violent extremism extends
true damage of violent extremism extends
true damage of violent extremism extends far far beyond why saw that day our
far far beyond why saw that day our
far far beyond why saw that day our responses as individuals and as
responses as individuals and as
responses as individuals and as communities are quite literally what
communities are quite literally what
communities are quite literally what imbues terrorism with its strength and
imbues terrorism with its strength and
imbues terrorism with its strength and with his power and this isn’t just
with his power and this isn’t just
with his power and this isn’t just speculation and this isn’t just an
speculation and this isn’t just an
speculation and this isn’t just an emotional response the Home Office
emotional response the Home Office
emotional response the Home Office released statistics last year saying the
released statistics last year saying the
released statistics last year saying the hate crimes had risen by 1/3 87 percent
hate crimes had risen by 1/3 87 percent
hate crimes had risen by 1/3 87 percent of those hate crimes had race or
of those hate crimes had race or
of those hate crimes had race or religion as a contributing factor
religion as a contributing factor
religion as a contributing factor it’s an astonishing number bear in mind
it’s an astonishing number bear in mind
it’s an astonishing number bear in mind that these were always conservative
that these were always conservative
that these were always conservative measures as well because an enormous
measures as well because an enormous
measures as well because an enormous number of hate crimes go unreported
number of hate crimes go unreported
number of hate crimes go unreported within this data there were clear spiked
within this data there were clear spiked
within this data there were clear spiked in hate crimes that correspond exactly
in hate crimes that correspond exactly
in hate crimes that correspond exactly with attacks in London this is thousands
with attacks in London this is thousands
with attacks in London this is thousands of retaliations perpetrated upon a
of retaliations perpetrated upon a
of retaliations perpetrated upon a peaceful Muslim population in direct
peaceful Muslim population in direct
peaceful Muslim population in direct response to isolated extremist acts I’ve
response to isolated extremist acts I’ve
response to isolated extremist acts I’ve learned that those who respond to
learned that those who respond to
learned that those who respond to violence with more violence are in fact
violence with more violence are in fact
violence with more violence are in fact doing the least constructive and most
doing the least constructive and most
doing the least constructive and most damage and thing they could possibly do
damage and thing they could possibly do
damage and thing they could possibly do when a gang Gotham folks smash up a
when a gang Gotham folks smash up a
when a gang Gotham folks smash up a mosque when a Muslim family is attacked
mosque when a Muslim family is attacked
mosque when a Muslim family is attacked in their own home this is actually just
in their own home this is actually just
in their own home this is actually just further damage from extremism the damage
further damage from extremism the damage
further damage from extremism the damage is immeasurably wide-ranging and
is immeasurably wide-ranging and
is immeasurably wide-ranging and destructive it’s not just about the bomb
destructive it’s not just about the bomb
destructive it’s not just about the bomb the damage carries on far beyond the
the damage carries on far beyond the
the damage carries on far beyond the person who carried out this attack was
person who carried out this attack was
person who carried out this attack was the son of Libyan immigrants he grew up
the son of Libyan immigrants he grew up
the son of Libyan immigrants he grew up on the same street did the same
on the same street did the same
on the same street did the same situation my brother did my brother and
situation my brother did my brother and
situation my brother did my brother and I are in fact the sons of a Turk
I are in fact the sons of a Turk
I are in fact the sons of a Turk immigrant my mother sounds from bro and
immigrant my mother sounds from bro and
immigrant my mother sounds from bro and my dad is British
my dad is British
my dad is British now the similarities between us we’re
now the similarities between us we’re
now the similarities between us we’re striking even at the very very start
striking even at the very very start
striking even at the very very start because although we led very similar
because although we led very similar
because although we led very similar lives in the same city at some point his
lives in the same city at some point his
lives in the same city at some point his paths diverged into radicalization and
paths diverged into radicalization and
paths diverged into radicalization and extremism and this similarity showed me
extremism and this similarity showed me
extremism and this similarity showed me one thing very clearly that if you use
one thing very clearly that if you use
one thing very clearly that if you use the actions of an extremists to demonize
the actions of an extremists to demonize
the actions of an extremists to demonize Islam or all immigrants you demonize me
Islam or all immigrants you demonize me
Islam or all immigrants you demonize me and my family too and worse you demonize
and my family too and worse you demonize
and my family too and worse you demonize thousands and thousands of innocent
thousands and thousands of innocent
thousands and thousands of innocent people whose only crime is to share a
people whose only crime is to share a
people whose only crime is to share a birthplace or a faith or a culture and
birthplace or a faith or a culture and
birthplace or a faith or a culture and this is why I spoke out now let me say
this is why I spoke out now let me say
this is why I spoke out now let me say very very clearly for those of the back
very very clearly for those of the back
very very clearly for those of the back of my thoughts on this if you use the
of my thoughts on this if you use the
of my thoughts on this if you use the actions of extremists to validate your
actions of extremists to validate your
actions of extremists to validate your prejudice against an inch high an entire
prejudice against an inch high an entire
prejudice against an inch high an entire section of our society that is racism
section of our society that is racism
section of our society that is racism now stop me if you’ve heard this one
now stop me if you’ve heard this one
now stop me if you’ve heard this one before I can’t be racist because Islam
before I can’t be racist because Islam
before I can’t be racist because Islam is not a race I’ve heard this a lot and
is not a race I’ve heard this a lot and
is not a race I’ve heard this a lot and I think you’re splitting hairs is point
I think you’re splitting hairs is point
I think you’re splitting hairs is point really the net result of all this is
really the net result of all this is
really the net result of all this is that Islamophobia is become almost
that Islamophobia is become almost
that Islamophobia is become almost completely normalized for so many now
completely normalized for so many now
completely normalized for so many now let’s look at the other side of the
let’s look at the other side of the
let’s look at the other side of the extremism spectrum in June 2016 Joe Cox
extremism spectrum in June 2016 Joe Cox
extremism spectrum in June 2016 Joe Cox was murdered by a right-wing far-right
was murdered by a right-wing far-right
was murdered by a right-wing far-right neo-nazi extremist on the streets of the
neo-nazi extremist on the streets of the
neo-nazi extremist on the streets of the constituency she served the the
constituency she served the the
constituency she served the the right-wing newspaper that has used his
right-wing newspaper that has used his
right-wing newspaper that has used his pages for decades to demonize Islam and
pages for decades to demonize Islam and
pages for decades to demonize Islam and immigration didn’t report the same in
immigration didn’t report the same in
immigration didn’t report the same in this case instead choosing to describe
this case instead choosing to describe
this case instead choosing to describe the attacker as a loner with a history
the attacker as a loner with a history
the attacker as a loner with a history of mental illness I’m sure you’ve read
of mental illness I’m sure you’ve read
of mental illness I’m sure you’ve read this kind of thing before a few weeks
this kind of thing before a few weeks
this kind of thing before a few weeks later when he was sentenced to life in
later when he was sentenced to life in
later when he was sentenced to life in prison they pushed the story back to
prison they pushed the story back to
prison they pushed the story back to page 30 instead of accurately reporting
page 30 instead of accurately reporting
page 30 instead of accurately reporting the Jews own verdict this attack was
the Jews own verdict this attack was
the Jews own verdict this attack was carried out to further a white
carried out to further a white
carried out to further a white supremacist ideology now as a citizen
supremacist ideology now as a citizen
supremacist ideology now as a citizen I don’t have the power to stop a
I don’t have the power to stop a
I don’t have the power to stop a terrorist attack but as citizens we
terrorist attack but as citizens we
terrorist attack but as citizens we absolutely hold the power to affect
absolutely hold the power to affect
absolutely hold the power to affect change within ourselves in our
change within ourselves in our
change within ourselves in our communities we can fix this my idea
communities we can fix this my idea
communities we can fix this my idea we’re spreading is that although we
under I say this my dear we’re spreading
under I say this my dear we’re spreading I suppose is that we all have the power
I suppose is that we all have the power
I suppose is that we all have the power to change things but we’re speaking to
to change things but we’re speaking to
to change things but we’re speaking to the wrong people about extremism now let
the wrong people about extremism now let
the wrong people about extremism now let me explain since the attack in
me explain since the attack in
me explain since the attack in particular list is taking such a public
particular list is taking such a public
particular list is taking such a public stance as I’m doing now I have spent a
stance as I’m doing now I have spent a
stance as I’m doing now I have spent a long time reading any moments of
long time reading any moments of
long time reading any moments of weakness responding to some of the most
weakness responding to some of the most
weakness responding to some of the most unbelievable abuse and aggressive
unbelievable abuse and aggressive
unbelievable abuse and aggressive commentary let’s say that you can
commentary let’s say that you can
commentary let’s say that you can imagine and it’s I very very quickly
imagine and it’s I very very quickly
imagine and it’s I very very quickly realized that attempting to meaningfully
realized that attempting to meaningfully
realized that attempting to meaningfully engage with these people is completely
engage with these people is completely
engage with these people is completely impossible it is time wasted trying to
impossible it is time wasted trying to
impossible it is time wasted trying to offer counterpoint or argument to a
offer counterpoint or argument to a
offer counterpoint or argument to a viewpoint and it’s just utterly
viewpoint and it’s just utterly
viewpoint and it’s just utterly entrenched in racism and xenophobia is
entrenched in racism and xenophobia is
entrenched in racism and xenophobia is impossible and this isn’t just online I
impossible and this isn’t just online I
impossible and this isn’t just online I was there that night when a prominent
was there that night when a prominent
was there that night when a prominent far-right right commentator chose to
far-right right commentator chose to
far-right right commentator chose to launch his self-published Islamophobic
launch his self-published Islamophobic
launch his self-published Islamophobic book on the streets of Manchester he
book on the streets of Manchester he
book on the streets of Manchester he chose this city our city my city for one
chose this city our city my city for one
chose this city our city my city for one reason alone and was the attacks I was
reason alone and was the attacks I was
reason alone and was the attacks I was there at the counter protest and I heard
there at the counter protest and I heard
there at the counter protest and I heard the same abuse screamed at my face in
the same abuse screamed at my face in
the same abuse screamed at my face in real life and that kind of thing it
real life and that kind of thing it
real life and that kind of thing it really really stays with you now this
really really stays with you now this
really really stays with you now this hostile defense of Britishness is
hostile defense of Britishness is
hostile defense of Britishness is something that pervades a lot of the
something that pervades a lot of the
something that pervades a lot of the argument put forth by the far-right you
argument put forth by the far-right you
argument put forth by the far-right you know taking our country back that kind
know taking our country back that kind
know taking our country back that kind of your kind of deal but I question what
of your kind of deal but I question what
of your kind of deal but I question what it is that they’re defending because I
it is that they’re defending because I
it is that they’re defending because I don’t think it exists for me British
don’t think it exists for me British
don’t think it exists for me British through Britishness is built on a
through Britishness is built on a
through Britishness is built on a foundation of multicultural then
foundation of multicultural then
foundation of multicultural then multiculturalism from our music to our
multiculturalism from our music to our
multiculturalism from our music to our food to our British at eccentricity we
food to our British at eccentricity we
food to our British at eccentricity we are a multicultural society and I feel
are a multicultural society and I feel
are a multicultural society and I feel that genuine national pride is actually
that genuine national pride is actually
that genuine national pride is actually a fine thing but this distorted hostile
a fine thing but this distorted hostile
a fine thing but this distorted hostile nationalism is not that and those who
nationalism is not that and those who
nationalism is not that and those who disagree are labelled as traitors and
disagree are labelled as traitors and
disagree are labelled as traitors and I’ve been called this too recently I
I’ve been called this too recently I
I’ve been called this too recently I would say that surely the real traitors
would say that surely the real traitors
would say that surely the real traitors to this country are those that seek to
to this country are those that seek to
to this country are those that seek to misappropriate subvert or weaponize our
misappropriate subvert or weaponize our
misappropriate subvert or weaponize our values against one another
values against one another
values against one another so we’re thinking about so if this is
so we’re thinking about so if this is
so we’re thinking about so if this is not where the conversation happens
not where the conversation happens
not where the conversation happens and it clearly isn’t than we’re well to
and it clearly isn’t than we’re well to
and it clearly isn’t than we’re well to fix a problem as big as extremism I
fix a problem as big as extremism I
fix a problem as big as extremism I believe that a real deep cultural change
believe that a real deep cultural change
believe that a real deep cultural change is needed and in order to do that we
is needed and in order to do that we
is needed and in order to do that we need to speak to the next generation of
need to speak to the next generation of
need to speak to the next generation of citizens recently I became a founder
citizens recently I became a founder
citizens recently I became a founder member of survivors against terror an
member of survivors against terror an
member of survivors against terror an antique extremism working group formed
antique extremism working group formed
antique extremism working group formed by Brendan Cox and a diverse group of
by Brendan Cox and a diverse group of
by Brendan Cox and a diverse group of others we’ve all been affected by
others we’ve all been affected by
others we’ve all been affected by violent extremism and we aim to use our
violent extremism and we aim to use our
violent extremism and we aim to use our collective voice and experience to
collective voice and experience to
collective voice and experience to affect proper tangible change in our
affect proper tangible change in our
affect proper tangible change in our communities our policies and our support
communities our policies and our support
communities our policies and our support networks discussing these issues openly
networks discussing these issues openly
networks discussing these issues openly with young people is a really really
with young people is a really really
with young people is a really really fundamental part of our work and when I
fundamental part of our work and when I
fundamental part of our work and when I go into these places so schools colleges
go into these places so schools colleges
go into these places so schools colleges I’ve spent a long time doing this now
I’ve spent a long time doing this now
I’ve spent a long time doing this now and when I go into these places I don’t
and when I go into these places I don’t
and when I go into these places I don’t have slides I don’t have a script
have slides I don’t have a script
have slides I don’t have a script I converse with students I don’t talk at
I converse with students I don’t talk at
I converse with students I don’t talk at students and this is an incredibly
students and this is an incredibly
students and this is an incredibly important distinction that so many are
important distinction that so many are
important distinction that so many are not making I found without fail that
not making I found without fail that
not making I found without fail that these students are just surprised to not
these students are just surprised to not
these students are just surprised to not be spoken down to discount young people
be spoken down to discount young people
be spoken down to discount young people at your peril and and they’re just happy
at your peril and and they’re just happy
at your peril and and they’re just happy to be engaged in what’s quite a frank
to be engaged in what’s quite a frank
to be engaged in what’s quite a frank and honest discussion about these issues
and honest discussion about these issues
and honest discussion about these issues which is something that often they don’t
which is something that often they don’t
which is something that often they don’t get and I found that they’re hungry for
get and I found that they’re hungry for
get and I found that they’re hungry for information for context and for balanced
information for context and for balanced
information for context and for balanced insight from other resources because
insight from other resources because
insight from other resources because quite often people young people in
quite often people young people in
quite often people young people in particular are receiving their info from
particular are receiving their info from
particular are receiving their info from singular sources which is either the
singular sources which is either the
singular sources which is either the press you have their own agenda or from
press you have their own agenda or from
press you have their own agenda or from those in the argument that shout the
those in the argument that shout the
those in the argument that shout the loudest which is not the right balance
loudest which is not the right balance
loudest which is not the right balance whatsoever and when a person receives
whatsoever and when a person receives
whatsoever and when a person receives all their information from just from
all their information from just from
all their information from just from single sources then in the worst cases
single sources then in the worst cases
single sources then in the worst cases that’s where extremism comes from and in
that’s where extremism comes from and in
that’s where extremism comes from and in their enthusiasm to engage with what is
their enthusiasm to engage with what is
their enthusiasm to engage with what is an extremely difficult thing to talk
an extremely difficult thing to talk
an extremely difficult thing to talk openly about I see one thing I see
openly about I see one thing I see
openly about I see one thing I see change those potential there or put this
change those potential there or put this
change those potential there or put this another way and if you take anything
another way and if you take anything
another way and if you take anything away today make it this bit imagine a
away today make it this bit imagine a
away today make it this bit imagine a scenario in which the radicalize young
scenario in which the radicalize young
scenario in which the radicalize young man who carried out this attack on this
man who carried out this attack on this
man who carried out this attack on this city had been exposed to voices other
city had been exposed to voices other
city had been exposed to voices other than those that led him from the path
than those that led him from the path
than those that led him from the path what happened in this city was a tragedy
what happened in this city was a tragedy
what happened in this city was a tragedy of unimaginable proportions for so many
of unimaginable proportions for so many
of unimaginable proportions for so many of us and we cannot let this legacy be
of us and we cannot let this legacy be
of us and we cannot let this legacy be more hatred and division between us we
more hatred and division between us we
more hatred and division between us we just can’t
just can’t
just can’t it’s losing someone for me to realize
it’s losing someone for me to realize
it’s losing someone for me to realize that we all have a stake in this and
that we all have a stake in this and
that we all have a stake in this and that we all have the ability to change
that we all have the ability to change
that we all have the ability to change things really change things my brother’s
things really change things my brother’s
things really change things my brother’s name was mine and he seized every moment
name was mine and he seized every moment
name was mine and he seized every moment and my tribute to him will absolutely be
and my tribute to him will absolutely be
and my tribute to him will absolutely be to do the same Thank You Manchester
to do the same Thank You Manchester
to do the same Thank You Manchester [Applause]
”
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