Between 6th – 10th August 2011 there have been several cases of riots in and a few outside London. The first scenario of these hectic events happened in Tottenham, but what excuse do the follow-up riots hold?
The Tottenham riot occurred on 5th August 2011. The spark that started this fire was the death of 29-year-old Mark Duggan who was, 10 days before the Tottenham event, shot dead by the police without explanation to the victims loved ones. This formed, what started off as a peaceful protest, into a hectic riot. In this riot many innocent people’s houses were damaged and some even destroyed, leaving victims distraught and homeless. This North London incident led to a franchise of riots and looting over the next couple of days.
But were all the riots based on this case? Four participants of the following riots tell us the answer to this misled question. These young men inform sky news in an interview that they were looting for their own benefit. However, there is more to this denotation, as one of the teenagers said they were looting to survive and ‘not for the fun of it’. Another said they were doing it to provide for their son, this same culprit later on said they believe that inequality is one of the main causes of this crisis.
At the end of the interview it was clear that these adolescents did not feel a hint of shame or guilt from their actions, apart from the fact that their parents could be watching their interview on television.
I understand how the tree of inequality has an effect in both the Tottenham and the subsequent incidents; as financial difficulties and risky government decisions branch off this unfair tree, it has become much harder to find equality, especially for those who are in the middle and lower class segment. However is this a good enough reason for theft and damaging innocent victims properties? Of course not! In my opinion no matter what background you are coming from; if you want something you should work for it regardless of the time it takes. Certainly there will be people who have an easier route in life, but that’s part of life, isn’t it? Accept the truth and move on; after all, taking the harder road in life makes you the stronger person!
Blessed&Inspired
All Things Are Possible!
