Hate crime: Dozens gather in Birmingham for second solidarity protest after homophobic attacks

Community leaders and members of the public came together to stage a second solidarity protest after a number of violent homophobic attacks in Birmingham
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Dozens of people gathered in Birmingham city centre on Sunday afternoon to attend a second solidarity protest after a rise in homophobic attacks.

The protest got underway at 1pm outside the LGBTQ+ centre on Pagoda Island in Holloway Circus - close to the scene where John-Paul Kessler was wounded after being attacked with a wine bottle for holding hands with another man.

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One of the organisers of the event, Rebecca Sheffield, said the second protest took place to maintain momentum following last week’s event on Friday, October 15, where hundreds also gathered in the gay quarter to show support.

Speaking to BirminghamWorld, Rebecca said: “The aim is to keep momentum going and show solidarity.

“The main thing is to come together to make Birmingham safer again especially for the LGBTQ+ community.

Rebecca Sheffield was one of the organisers of Sunday’s rallyRebecca Sheffield was one of the organisers of Sunday’s rally
Rebecca Sheffield was one of the organisers of Sunday’s rally

On what needs to be done to make people feel safer, Rebecca said: “There needs to be some kind of a presence - not necessarily of police - but around Broad Street on a weekend they have bouncers and people there until four or five in the morning but in Hurst Street (Birmingham’s Gay Village) they stop at 11pm.”

Khakan Qureshi, the founder of BirminghamAsianLGBT,  spoke at the rally on SundayKhakan Qureshi, the founder of BirminghamAsianLGBT,  spoke at the rally on Sunday
Khakan Qureshi, the founder of BirminghamAsianLGBT, spoke at the rally on Sunday
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Speaking at the rally, Khakan Qureshi, the founder of BirminghamAsianLGBT, said: “You read about homophobic hate crime in Birmingham and in particular the gay village and you think this does not represent my city and that I do not feel safe anymore in the gay village.

“With the first protest it brought a chance to stand up to bigotry and we have another chance today. We need to make changes for the better and I want to see change start through education systems, and by talking to the council and the police and everybody who is involved.

“Whether you are part of the LGBTQ+ community, whether you are heterosexual and you consider yourself an ally I think we need to be much more forceful in what we are trying to achieve, and we need to say a lot more in schools and in the work place.”

Dozens gathered on SundayDozens gathered on Sunday
Dozens gathered on Sunday
Many gathered to show support at the rally on SundayMany gathered to show support at the rally on Sunday
Many gathered to show support at the rally on Sunday

Saima Razzaq, Birmingham Pride’s head of diversity and inclusion, added: “Last week’s protest saw hundreds come together including the police and the council, and they’ve announced a 10 step action plan which includes a city wide engagement piece which I think is really key.

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“We don’t want to divide or to alienate other communities, and we’re not here to call communities homophobic or transphobic - we’re here to show them that as a community our community is about love and not hate, we don’t want to create divides - let’s bring people together on this journey and we can only do that through love.”

Rise in homophobic attacks

Police arrested a man after Mr Kesseler was attacked on October 10 on suspicion of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The suspect has been released on bail.

A 29-year-old man surrendered to West Midlands Police on Thursday (21 October).

The arrest follows a rise in violent homophobic attacks.

A couple in their 30s were attacked outside Missing Bar in August when homophobic abuse was shouted at them before they were assaulted with bottles.

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West Midlands police said that officers are also investigating other homophobic hate crimes and are “determined to get justice for victims.”

As well as the protest on Sunday, West Midlands police’s LGBTQ+ officer, PC Kennedy, hosted a pop-up police station on Hurst Street on Friday and Saturday to discuss hate crime.

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