'It'll take time to heal': Community leader says fallout of riots still having big impact

ITV News

20-05-2025

The president of a Senegalese group says it's going to "take time" for communities like his to heal following last year's violent protests.
Lamine Diop is the president of the Kora Association, a Senegalese group based on Stapleton Road in Bristol.
In the wake of last year's violent protests across the country, including in Bristol, Lamine says the community was left scared and anxious in the city many of them call home.
He told ITV News West Country: 'It's not really a nice thing to think about it because it was sad.
'It was sad, it was stressful, it was worrying, it was not good for the children as well.'
Despite no further outbreaks of violence in the city since August last year, Lamine says it is still fresh on people's minds and will take a long time to mentally recover from.
He said: 'The kids, because they're born here, they feel like this is home for them.
'When they see this thing [the protests] they feel like 'I'm not a part of this country, my colour is a problem here'.
'It was so worrying. They're scared about going to school, going out in the community. It was a sad feeling for them, it was tough.
'Even like going out to the shop, they're worried - they can't go to the shop by themself.
'Now they're worried. They prefer to stay home. Even going to school they need to go with friends like together and they can feel more safe.'
Lamine, who works in a school, said it isn't just young people who felt the brutal impact of the unrest.
He added: 'This place used to be busy and packed. But since the [protests] happened it killed the place.
'A lot of people are worried about coming out, they're not really going out anymore. Even the old people, they felt like 'do I need to go by myself'.
'They don't feel safe going out by themselves. It's not very nice to be honest. It'll probably take time to bring people back. A lot of people just stay home.'
Asked if Bristol still felt like home to him, Lamine responded: 'It's not really. It used to be. But not now.'
Lamine has lived in Bristol for 20 years and would frequently go out in the city at night and in the day, but admitted even he now thinks twice before going anywhere - especially on his own.
He recently returned to Senegal to visit family and friends and said many people there now fear visiting the UK.
He said: 'When I was there my family was worried. My wife and kids - when they see this video it was scary.
'They said 'are you guys safe there'. I say yeah we're safe. I want to bring them back here but they're worried, they say 'do you think I can go back to UK', I say 'yeah, of course'.
'They just worry. Kids are worried, wife are worried to come here. Maybe it take time to get the confidence back.'
Asked if he could summarise the long term feeling this has left within minority communities, Lamine said: 'It's tough to describe. It's not a great thing. It's not a nice thing.
'One of the saddest things happening in life I've been through. One of the most horrible, nasty things I've been through in my life to be honest. That's how I feel.
'Especially when I see the kids as well - at home worrying about going out.'