A far-right hooligan threatened a 17-year-old boy from Liverpool on his way to work and smashed his dad’s car. The incident occurred when the teenager was heading to a train station early in the morning and was followed by a man on a bike who shouted racist abuse at him. Feeling scared and threatened, the boy called his parents for help.
The situation escalated when the man reappeared on the father’s way home, pointing ‘gun fingers’ at the car and making violent threats towards Muslims. He proceeded to smash the car’s rear windows with his bike before the father drove off. Chantelle Lunt, the boy’s mother and a Labour member of Knowsley Council, expressed the heightened state of alertness that black and brown parents have been feeling in light of recent racist incidents.
The family has since taken extra precautions to ensure their safety, such as accompanying their son at all times, dropping him off at work, and installing security cameras at their home. The teenager shared his feelings of fear and isolation, noting the impact that the incident has had on his sense of community. Despite the trauma of the event, the family is determined to stand against hate and seek justice.
The community has rallied around the family, with activist Patsy Stevenson setting up a GoFundMe to help cover security and car repair costs. The police are actively investigating the incident and appealing for witnesses to come forward. Detective Inspector Yoseph Al-Ramadhan emphasized that hate crime will not be tolerated in Merseyside and expressed support for the victim and his family.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of racism and the need for continued efforts to combat it. The family’s experience highlights the lasting impact of such hateful actions and the importance of standing together in solidarity against discrimination. As the community comes together to support the family, there is hope for healing and progress towards a more inclusive and compassionate society.