Loves Cafe attacked by far right thugs
- Dan Heley
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Loves Cafe on West St, Weston-super-Mare, who are affiliated with Refugees Welcome North Somerset was allegedly attacked on Friday night with a broken window and racist grafitti via the use of stickers with racist language across their premises.
The stickers have since been removed but the boarded up window to the premises shows signs of the damage that occurred.
The attack comes off the back of months of increased anti-refugee sentiment that began with the soon to be withdrawn Council of Sanctuary status that Weston Town Council initially voted in favour of earlier this year.
However in recent weeks Labour’s Cllr James Clayton has won the first stage of two votes for Weston Town Council to withdraw from the scheme.
The Council of Sanctuary scheme is a designation given to local authorities that commit to acts of welcome and support for asylum seekers and refugees.
It does not mean refugees are more likely to be placed in Weston-super-Mare. No refugees are placed in Weston-super-Mare hotels and there is no plans for any.
Misinformation in the town has been spread in recents months via social media and is being driven and encouraged by elements of the Weston-super-Mare branch of Reform who recently took control of the popular “Spotted Weston-super-Mare” Facebook group and permits and encourages anonymous posting of false information.
A spokesperson for Refugees Welcome North Somerset said; “We are deeply saddened and concerned to hear that our friends at Loves cafe have been targeted in what appears to be racist / anti migrant vandalism over the weekend.
Loves is one of several businesses and organisations across North Somerset that host our vibrant and vital activities for asylum seekers and refugees. We work out of Loves once a week.
The rest of the time, the cafe is an independent locally owned business. Run by an incredible woman who cares about all of Weston, working tirelessly to help the community. By targeting Loves, vandals are hitting the heart of what Weston is about. These vandals are hurting local people and local business. That doesn't seem very patriotic or protective.
We at RWNS send all at Loves our gratitude and support. We ask that the good people of Weston do the same.
You can support the ongoing efforts to promote connections, peace and cohesion here
Avon & Somerset Police have been contacted for comment.
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