The shameful targeting of black police officers

I’m severely disabled, coffee-coloured, a migrant, a refugee and a woman. I was born to a Muslim family and I chose atheism as soon as I could think. To put it simply, I don’t need much convincing that for minority grievances to be ameliorated, meritocracy has to exist. Positions of power must be open to individuals from all backgrounds. Many people agree. But it’s disheartening that some activists appear to reject this way of thinking.

More than 430 attacks against black and ethnic minority police officers occurred between June and September last year. This number represents an almost threefold increase on the previous four months. The thuggery of far right protestors should not be underestimated, of course. But shamefully we must admit that some of the physical and verbal abuse doled out to police officers appears to have taken place during last summer’s BLM protests.

Any attack on a police officer is appalling. But the targeting of officers because of the colour of their skin is particularly alarming.