Bradford has "moved on" since riots
Council Leader says wounds have healed 20 years later and we should look forward not back
Last updated 7th Jul 2021
Today (Wednesday 7th July) marks the 20th anniversary of the Bradford Riots.
A summer of simmering tensions in communities across the north came to a head in the city when a far right group was banned from holding an event in the city, but an anti-fascist gathering took place.
A large crowd attended that and when word got out some neo Nazis had defied the order to stay away and someone had been stabbed near a pub, the group became a mob demanding answers and justice and things quickly turned violent.
Around a thousand - mostly - young men attacked police, who rolled out all their anti-riot measures including police horses, barricades and riot shields.
Petrol bombs were thrown, cars set alight and pushed downhill towards officers.
Many businesses were damaged, possibly most notably the BMW and Mini dealership on Oak Lane which was destroyed at a cost of £5.5m.
One of the most shocking incidents of the riot saw people trapped inside the Manningham Ward Labour Club on Whetley Lane after it had been firebombed.
They were forced to take refuge in the cellar, fortunately nobody was killed.
Around 300 arrests were made by West Yorkshire Police and 200 people were charged over the riots, getting in total between them around 600 years in jail time.
But 20 years on Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchliffe says that the riot is something from the past.
"Bradford was one of a number of places where riots occurred 20 years ago. There is no doubt that they were deeply damaging and were driven by complex factors that are not unique to Bradford and which affect many cities across the country. We had to think long and hard as a community about the place we were and wanted to be.
"Our response has been to focus on our common goals and shared values. We have also focused on working closely at a local level across organisations and all communities to monitor tensions, promote dialogue and generate opportunities for people to mix.
"We’re not complacent, in any big city there is always work to do. But we do believe that, 20 years later, Bradford has moved on. The district is a place filled with young, vibrant people where everyone – whatever their background – can live, work, learn and socialise together. We work hard to ensure communities celebrate what we have in common and the strength we get from different faiths, beliefs and opinions. These are underpinned by a shared set of values that champion respect, tolerance, freedom and equality of opportunity.
"We’re focused now on recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Our plans prioritise investment in skills, education and our young people. We have a pipeline of projects to deliver which will have a transformational impact on the district’s future. The centrepiece of this is our bid to be City of Culture 2025. We’re looking forward, not back, and believe that This Is Our Time."
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