Calls for unity, continuity

Politicians and community leaders from around London and the UK appealed for calm and unity, as the country contends with the aftermath of a terrorist attack at the heart of its democracy, yards from where members of both the House of Commons and Lords had gathered for parliamentary business on Wednesday.

Setting the tone of how London would not be cowed was the resumption of normal business at the Houses of Parliament — following a one-minute silence and statement from the Prime Minister.

“Beyond these walls today — in scenes repeated in towns and cities across the country — millions of people are going about their days and getting on with their lives…the streets are as busy as ever. ..the offices are full…it is these actions — millions of acts of normality - that we find the best response to terrorism,” said Prime Minister Theresa May.

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn called for communities to unite following the “appalling atrocity.”

“We stand together in the face of those who seek to harm us and seek to destroy our way of life,” said London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Religious groups have also swiftly condemned the events, and called for unity. “The best response to this outrage is to make sure we come together in solidarity and not allow the terrorists to divide us,” said Harun Khan, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain.

The Hindu Council UK warned that it would be “wrong to stir up hatred towards any religion or faith as a result of this attack…Tonight there will be many fearing reprisals.”

The Sikh Federation also issued a statement calling for unity. “We join other peace loving people to condemn this attack.”

While most individuals and organisations refrained from political points in the aftermath of the tragic events in London, Tommy Robinson, a former far right, anti-Islam leader was widely condemned on social media for attempting to gain political capital at the scene of the attack, after launching into a verbal tirade, and an attack against Muslims in Britain online, as was Arron Banks, a businessman who was a prominent financial backer of the campaign to leave the EU who on Thursday sought to link the terrorist attack to uncontrolled immigration.

However, those voices appeared in the minority, as Twitter was flooded with messages of a commitment to unity and hashtags such as #WeStandTogether.

Virendra Sharma, the Labour MP for the ethnically diverse London constituency of Ealing Southall, who was one of those parliamentarians caught up in lockdown in the House of Commons chamber on Wednesday, told this paper that he had received messages of support from people and organisations across communities within his constituency.

“London communities are strong and are committed to equality and unity…I have confidence the public will not listen to the right wing reactionaries - we cannot deny there is a threat from terrorism in our society but when we are united we can send a message that we don’t endorse their ideology or their message of hatred. That is the history of the people of London and I am sure they will carry on this tradition.”

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