Notting Hill Carnival unites communities

Just weeks after riots which breached the peace in London and other cities in England, there were calls for the Notting Hill Carnival to be called off this year.

But having become a permanent fixture on the calendar on the last Bank holiday of the summer, the two-day festival livened up the streets of west London with a riot of colour, music, food and multicultural camaraderie.

Over a million people took to the streets to defy the sceptics who were concerned that Black Britain's premier cultural event would attract the wrong sort of crowd, the type who went rampaging through the streets terrorising, looting and destroying people's livelihoods.

Many heeded the words of London mayor Boris Johnson, who said that supporting Europe's biggest carnival would help heal wounds and "let the true spirit of London shine through".

The carnival has gone some way to show people still have the community spirit and rather than lament the terrible incidents which took place in August, they are looking to move on with life and embrace different cultures.

Leaders from the Black community who recently launched Operation Hope and Recovery (OHR), billed as the biggest social empowerment movement, have praised the role the carnival has played this weekend in celebrating the cultural diversity of London and hope that it is evident of how the relationship between the community and the police can be harmonious.

The steering group behind OHR includes OBV's Director Simon Woolley, Bishop Wayne Malcolm from the Christian Life City Church, Viv Ahmun from Black Men in the Community, David Weaver from the 1990 Trust and Lee Jasper, who is currently Chair of the London Race & Criminal Justice Consortium.

In a statement, the group said,

"London is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. It is one of the most remarkable and treasured aspects of London life. Here in London we have the world in one city and Notting Hill Carnival represents that hyper diversity as no other cultural event can. We extend our congratulations to the Board of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd and all those many thousands of Carnivalists for their hard work and unrivalled commitment to ensure that the event was both peaceful and an overwhelming success."

It added,

"They along with the million or so revellers who came to enjoy the beautiful spectacle that is Carnival should be extremely proud of themselves. The Metropolitan Police Service have policed event with a degree of insight and sensitivity that is to be commended. We would hope that the mainstream media would ensure that Carnival gets the positive press it richly deserves after what was a fabulously successful event."