Racist abuse on our streets ‘truly disgusting,’ says MP

Community leaders in Chichester have said they are angered and disgusted by the abuse levelled at members of the cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which wrapped at the Festival Theatre last weekend.

Munya Chawawa , the star of Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, took to social media after the final performance and said: “I don’t think I have witnessed or experienced as much racism, homophobia and xenophobia as I did in those six weeks [in Chichester] as I have in my entire lifetime.”

In an Instagram video, the actor and comedian cited several incidents in the city centre, and beyond, which he said show that “hatred has spread like a cancer” in this country.

He said not only were the cast abused for being “a different creed, different colour, different sexuality”, but so too were schoolchildren and visitors who came to see the show.

He said this points to a larger rot in society, a “bleak” vision that reflects where we are as a country.

Community leaders in Chichester have reacted with “sadness” to his post.

Jess Brown Fuller MP said that “The incidents Munya describes, including homophobic, racist and xenophobic abuse on our streets, are truly disgusting.

Although I know these views do not represent the majority of people in Chichester, they do point to wider, society-wide failings.”

She said in a statement that “We cannot allow this to continue. What we need is a society-wide, cross-agency approach to tackling both the root causes of this behaviour and how it is policed.”

Her comments were echoed by Chichester City Mayor, Cllr Sean McHale:

“I was sorry to read Munya Chawawa’s comments about his time in Chichester. I abhor prejudice in any form, and racism, homophobia and xenophobia have no place in our city. His experience deserves to be taken seriously, not explained away.

The City Council meets regularly with community representatives and our local police to highlight antisocial behaviour. Chichester is a good place to live and do business, but that’s only true if it’s true for everyone.

I would encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses this kind of behaviour to report it, so we can keep working to make sure every resident and visitor feels comfortable and welcome in our City. I would welcome the chance to talk with him about what happened and how we can learn.”

 Last week, Justin Audibert, Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre, went on stage before a performance of the play to announce that due to a homophobic attack on one of the cast, the show would be cancelled. He then spoke of his repugnance at such an “atrocious thing.”

On Tuesday, he and Executive Director Kathy Bourne reacted to Mr Chawawa’s comments, saying: “We were appalled and profoundly saddened by the incidents recently experienced by members of our company and their guests in Chichester and beyond.

It’s deeply dismaying that the nationwide increase in toxic and aggressive behaviour is being reflected in our city.”

Following the incidents, the theatre said it is now: “reflecting and reviewing, with care, what action and leadership we can take going forward to supplement and fully embody and communicate our values, and support and celebrate our outstanding companies.

We understand this is an issue which will require constant review and assessment, and we are absolutely committed to doing so.”

Whilst community leaders reacted with shock, not everyone in the city is surprised.

With a 90% white population, Chichester is one of the least ethnically diverse districts in the South East.

Last year, the St. George’s Cross – a symbol weaponised by the Far Right – was graffitied across bollards, road signs and roads in the city, whilst anti-migrant protestors gathered outside The Park Hotel, which houses refugees and asylum seekers.

Writing on the Chichester Observer Page on Facebook, one commentator said: “It’s absolutely rife in Chichester. It’s not always obvious either; the micro-racism and homophobia that happens almost goes unnoticed. I have lived here for the last 11 years and try to avoid the city as much as possible.

To be made to feel like a total outsider when I was born and raised in England makes me want to stay at home and hide.”

There are regularly unpublishable racist, xenophobic and homophobic comments posted on local social media sites – which suggest that Mr Chawawa’s experiences were not a one-off.

Indeed, Sanctuary in Chichester said on Facebook this is: "a painful reminder that hate crimes are still happening here in our community."

The charity went on to say: "We stand in solidarity with anyone who has experienced hate crime. You belong here, and you deserve to feel safe, welcome and respected."

Tony Toynton, chair of trustees for the charity, said: "As someone who has lived and worked in Chichester for the past 20 years, I was appalled to hear that people are being subjected to racial and homophobic abuse in our beautiful city that has a reputation for welcoming visitors and new residents from around the world"

The Chichester and Bognor chapter of Stand Up to Racism said in a statement:

"The horrific racist and homophobic abuse experienced by Munya Chawawa and others in the cast and audience in Chichester and Brighton is shocking.

As Munya Chawawa himself rightly identifies, it is also sadly not surprising, as such rising hate crimes on the ground are linked to the rise of racist narratives of hatred and division targeting refugees, migrants and Muslims being pushed by those at the very top of society.    

Across the South Coast in recent months, we have also seen far-right street mobilisations organised by supporters of fascist Tommy Robinson - and reminiscent of the 1930s 'Blackshirts' - targeting and terrorising refugees and migrants and RNLI volunteers.  

That a performance of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream can now be stopped by such racist thuggery in Chichester exposes the lie that the far right are the champions and protectors of what they would call 'English culture'.  

We need to build a mass anti-racist movement to turn the tide against the far right and their poisonous politics of hate - and say that our diverse and multicultural communities are not going to be targeted and divided by them."

Mr Chawawa’s comments came as Chichester District Council launched the ‘Chichester Story Initiative’ to promote and champion the area as a great place to live and do business.

Chichester Festival Theatre is a major contributor to the city’s cultural and economic activity. Any suggestion that the city is not safe for visitors is worrying for those trying to lead the city into the future.

Councillor Adrian Moss, Leader of Chichester District Council, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the experiences described by Munya Chawawa during his time in Chichester.

Everyone should feel safe, welcome and respected, regardless of their background, and it is upsetting to hear accounts of racism, xenophobia, homophobia and discrimination. These behaviours are completely unacceptable and have no place in our district.

 The vast majority of people who live here share our values of kindness, respect and inclusion, and want our communities to be places where everyone feels they belong.

 While we know that the overwhelming majority of people who live and work here share these values, any instance of discrimination is one too many.

 We want Chichester to continue to be known not only for its heritage, culture and economic success, but also as a place that embraces diversity and where people from all backgrounds can thrive."

 Mr Chawawa ended his Instagram video by quoting the Irish philosopher Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

His experience now places the onus on Chichester’s public bodies and community leaders to decide what practical steps are taken next.