Standing up to racist behaviour

photo by Joe Giddens

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/09/birmingham-woman-standing-in-defiance-of-edl-protester-goes-viral

Saffiyah Khan who is from Birmingham stood up to a member of the EDL (English Defence League) during a march in Birmingham and gained national attention for the way she handled the situation. 

(Explain the EDL do not agree with No Outsiders. They want a Britain where everyone is the same, there is one religion and one colour skin, one kind of person. Birmingham City Council said the group was not welcome in the city and a large number of people turned up to show their support for diversity in Birmingham, against the EDL)

During the march a group of men started shouting at Saira Zafara, a woman wearing a hijab. They were shouting, "You're not English, this is a Christian country, not your country" so Saffiyah stepped in. The photo shows Saffiyah being unaffected by the man's anger; she remained calm and supported the other woman.

Later Saira said, "I'm sure we're more than capable of living together united despite our differences. You just have to walk in to Birmingham City Centre to see how diverse it is. People of different colours, different religions. It's an absolutely amazing city, such a beautiful city and it;s nothing like the sort of message that the EDL come here to deliver."

What's happening in the picture?
Where do you think it's taken?

Explain the story
How do you think the woman wearing a hijab felt when men on the march started shouting at her?
Why do you think Saffiyah stood in front of her?
How do you think Safffiyah felt when she first stepped in front of the shouting man?
Look at her face, how is she feeling in the photo?
Why are the men shouting, "This is not your country"? (because they don't understand about diversity, about No Outsiders and how the UK is full of different people who get along)
How do you think the man felt when Saffiyah stood in front of him?
Why is Saffiyah smiling? Why didn't she push him or shout back?
The photo went viral; why? What does this show about people in the UK today?
Even after her experiences, why does Saira say, "We are more than capable of living together united despite our differences"?
What can we learn from Saira and from Saffiyah?
Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our schools: Teaching the Equlaity Act in primary Schools by Andrew Moffat

equalitiesprimary