Stand up to racists: Indian-origin anti-terror chief

London, June 10

Neil Basu, Scotland Yard’s Indian-origin Head of Counter-Terrorism Policing, issued a personalised message on Wednesday, calling on his police colleagues across the UK to stand up to racists amid protests against the killing of George Floyd in the US.

He referenced his own “mixed Indian and white British heritage” as he responded to a series of anti-racism “Black Lives Matter” protests in London and across Britain over the weekend in the wake of the killing of Floyd, who was pinned to the ground by a white police officer as he gasped for breath in the US city of Minnespolis, triggering worldwide protests.

“Personally I see this as a time to stand up – stand up to racists, to inequality and injustice,” Basu, a Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, said as he acknowledged the choice made by some of his police colleagues to “take the knee” – a symbol of solidarity with the Justice for George Floyd movement around the world. “We can be better than this, and we must be better than this. There can be no better sight than watching people of many different faiths, nationalities and colour, standing together in peace against injustice.” Basu stressed that he aimed at highlighting the need for compassion. — PTI