The Church of England’s racial justice bishop has urged people to speak and listen rather than use “placards and megaphones”, calling for “positive patriotism” in the wake of protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the country.
Arun Arora, the Bishop of Kirkstall, Leeds, said the Church of England’s role was not only to “unashamedly and unapologetically” speak against racist violence and abuse aimed at minority communities but to help facilitate listening and conversation between opposing groups.
