Day 207, Year of #Mygration: Open University leads the way in marking National Hate Crime Awareness Week

• The Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Martin Petchey
• The Deputy Leader of MK Council, Councillor Hannah O’Neill
• The Local Area Police Commander, Yvette Hitch
• Arriva Bus Depot Engineering Manager, Matt Bloxham
• MK Dons Sports and Education Trust’s (SET) Education, Inclusion & Wellbeing Manager, Dean Dixon
• Pupils and teachers from Great Linford Primary School, Jubilee Wood Primary School, Summerfield Primary School and St Paul’s Catholic School
• Representatives of Citizens:MK and leaders of the Fight Against Hate Campaign

Before the school performances, three moving and personal hate-crime testimonies by Gwyneth Morgan, Arif Master and Jennifer were provided. Messages from performances by pupils from participating schools helped in shaping the pledges made by representatives of The Open University, Thames Valley Police, MK Council, Arriva Bus, MK Dons SET and the schools in attendances. Arriva Bus unveiled the poster that will be displayed on buses to mark the National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Professor Josie Fraser highlighted during the event that:

Hate crimes are on the increase, both nationally and specifically here in Milton Keynes. The number of hate incidents/crimes in Milton Keynes was higher than anywhere else in Thames Valley. The schools and students have been in action to bring us messages for harmony.  We all need to do our bit to both raise awareness and to report hate crimes and incidents.

Details on the event and pledges can be seen on the Citizens:MK website