Through watching…
‘Can You Feel the Tension?’
We’ve entered the past and know our present.
Now our future is up to you.
What does your community look like, and does this challenge how you see your world?
Alice Eves
B226 - Chelsea College of the Arts.
11th June - 19th June 2026
Transcript:
My upbringing was safe, we lived in a farmhouse in a tiny village, everyone knew everyone and there was a sense of belonging.
I had the tiniest primary school, we had 50 students per year, the day before William and Kate’s royal wedding, our activity for the day was to decorate Union Jack cookies, as our week was finishing a day early. My Mum and Dad had surprised my brother and me at the school gate with bags packed, as we were going to spend the night camping outside Buckingham Palace so we could get the best spot to see the royal couple kiss and hopefully get a glimpse of the Queen. My whole family came to see where we had spent the night and enjoy the wedding with us. It wasn’t uncommon for us to venture into London for days out.
I suppose, knowing what I know now, I was very privileged; it wasn't until I moved to New Romney in Kent that I took note of 2 boys who I had heard moved here from Syria. I had heard of a war that was going on in Syria and asked my mother why my peers at school were saying they had walked from there. She explained that the 2 boys at school most likely came to the UK on boats or a lorry and that they have experienced a very different life than we have. Their stories, or the little of what I knew of it, stuck with me.
As I got older, my family would often debate current politics around the dinner table. These debates led me to realise that a debate is an exchange of opinions based on lived experiences, some key points of research and a few things we have read in the media that we may or may not know are true. Our upbringing, and the location of it, defines our opportunities, education and the communities we surround ourselves with. This intern hinders our perception of the world, but in no means should it define it.
During lockdown, a video had been shared and was gaining traction of anti-protesters who had turned up to a BLM march in our local town. I spotted a close family member who had attended, and it horrified me to find out they were on the opposition. This person I know, through association, stood in favour of racism. I’m embarrassed to mention it but feel it’s important as this led to questioning colonial narratives fed throughout my upbringing.
In recent years, EDL or freedom of speech marches have become more prevalent. An anger of anti-immigration and hatred of crimes from the British public is growing, and it’s being media-fuelled. I know that this is a touchy subject matter that has many factors to consider.
In 2017, I watched ‘Three Girls’, a drama based on a true story of a British Pakistani national’s sex ring in Rochdale targeting white British young girls. As I was of a similar age to these girls, it angered me that the police wouldn’t believe them. The perpetrators were prosecuted after 5 years of raping and assaulting the girls, who were as young as 13. Since this story aired, there have been more reports of sex rings in Huddersfield. I believe these “grooming gangs” or group-based child sexual exploitation gangs of young British girls have been at the forefront of these protests. In Rochdale, 260 victims were referred to children’s social care services, and these referrals have “not been acted on over the years”. The metropolitan police were told multiple times, and their story’s and they weren’t believed. This is a total let down for women’s rights, as there are perpetrators who haven’t been convicted. Our London mayor, Sediq Kan acted as if there was no indication of grooming gangs when questioned. This sends a message to the victims that they won’t be saved if they come forward, it enforces to the perpetrators that they can get away with child sexual exploitation, and it shows the British public that women and children aren’t safe.
The EDL and freedom of speech marches in London were also a direct action due to Tommy Robinson’s arrest and the media blackout at this time. On the day of one of the protests, I had messages in group chats from friends telling each other to stay safe and not to go out. I have since discussed with predominantly Indian friends living in the UK that they were getting messages from community group chats warning people not to go out or go to work because of racially charged violence happening in different areas of London. While working in Victoria, greater London, I was watching out my shop window at the sea of white EDL protesters, My colleague, who is Arabic and born in Britain complained to me and explained how she wanted to go out and get her lunch but felt scared to do so, I sympathised with her when she turned to me and said “you should be fine going out there”. I understood her fear and acknowledged my privilege while simultaneously hiding guilt that I knew of family members who were attending.
The impact on social media of these protests has raised questions as to the safety towards immigrants or British-born migrants. The feedback I received on the march from family members who attended is that it was peaceful, and they felt safe amongst the many who were there, was inclusive and positive. In the media, it was reported of a large discrepancy in figures for attendance. Many news articles stated that it was a violent and racially charged, anti-migrant protest. Unfortunately, this is creating a hostile, hate-filled environment towards all immigrants. It doesn’t help that the media has a history of painting immigrants as a criminals which is in turn creating confusion, and has led to uneducated hatred, such as “UK is collecting the world’s pedophiles” “We need to send them to camps and deport them“ and “Get the Muslims out” this has in turn led the left to counter protest such as the Together Alliance who’s slogan is “together against the far right” and stand up to racism UK.
Through attending a decolonising club with Mohini Chandra and a few students we were debating the fine line between hate speech and freedom of speech, one student had decided there isn’t a fine line, hate speech leads to violence and they were right, the UK and the rest of the world has seen a considerable influx of hate speech largely due to social media and that this can be dangerous as people will gravitate towards peers who have similar opinions. Prosecution and jail time are now a harsh reality for hate speech, or intent to incite hate speech online, as we have seen through the case of Lucy Connally.
I have since discussed with Albanian immigrants, who are often victims of media bias and higher deportations than any other ethnic group, who expressed how they felt while these protests were happening, they understood why people are taking this stance and agreed with many points of yes if there is someone who has been involved in criminal activity they shouldn’t have the option to stay in the UK but highlighted how lots of illegal immigrants don’t have the opportunity, through funds and education, to come to the UK legally. They don’t view themselves as criminals for coming here illegally and believe that where they come from should not determine where they stay.
We are lucky enough, with the rise of social media, to have access to any media type we want to expose ourselves to. Our views and perceptions don’t have to be challenged. The algorithms will do that for you, reinforcing your personal narrative. Unfortunately, with this rise, there are many false statistics and narratives cycling, and it’s hard to know what to believe. We can learn from our history of migration, and it’s what the UK is built on. The benefits of migration have been shown to be true.
I decide to look at any angle, question what I have been told 2 or 3 times over. Neither right nor left is right or wrong; it’s contextual. There are times you want higher taxes, more government spending and immigration, and there are times when you want lower taxes, less government spending and less immigration. Politically, as people, we move our stance depending on the knowledge we have access to, influences from the world and people around us. It’s dangerous to believe you will only believe in this for the rest of your life. Contextualising what we see and translating what is needed as a nation is a human right in a democracy. I believe space needs to be made for reparative justice for the public. Migration is a normal and natural way for the world to operate. Space should be made for others to experience and respect each other’s cultures. Beauty can be found in allowing communication without prosecution.
