Poster campaign sparks fears of racist flare-ups
Julian Makey
Concern is growing about outbreaks of racism in the Huntingdon area after anti-Polish posters were put up in the town.
Abuse was also shouted at a man advertising a meeting promoting understanding with Muslims in St Ives.
Police are investigating the anti-Polish posters and have urged anyone who knows who is responsible for them to get in touch.
The posters, which say Huntingdon has been “infested” with Poles and makes racist comments, have been put up recently in the north of the town.
Artur Boszczyk, from Huntingdon, said: “It is racist, you know, and I didn’t feel very well when I saw it.”
He said the leaflets were offensive and that he had not experienced other problems with British people.
Mr Boszczyk said some of the abuse may have been aimed at him because he had made complaints about noise from a factory near his home.
Jonathan Salt, a St Ives town councillor, said he became aware of racism in the area when he was canvassing in the general election.
Cllr Salt, a regular visitor to Poland for Holocaust studies, said: “It is just as racist as if it was to do with their colour – it doesn’t make any difference.”
He said that he was concerned about the growth of right-wing groups like the English Defence League, which he understood had been active in St Ives.
Cllr Salt said a Meet Your Muslim Neighbours session at the Corn Exchange in St Ives on Saturday had been very popular and attracted more than 250 people.
He said: “There was a guy outside with a placard advertising it and he had three or four nasty racist insults from people who were passing.
“We are going through an economic crisis and people are worried about things like jobs. They are projecting that on to ethnic groups.”
A police spokesman said: “We have been made aware of several posters that have been put up around Huntingdon. We take all forms of racism very seriously and are investigating.”