In the late 70’s I was living in London when the National Front (An extreme right wing political party right) marched through central London. As I photographed some of the marchers I observed that a lot of them were young and angry, however my lens captured an old lady that looked as sweet as they can be. After the march finished I approached her and introduced myself. She was very pleasant so I asked her why she was marching. She spent the next hour telling me a horrific story. Idi Amin, ex president and despot of Uganda had expelled thousands of Ugandan Asians and as most of these had British passports they arrived on British Shores. Massive social upheaval occurred particularly in London where most of them wanted to settle.

This old ladies anger had two dimensions to it. Her sons were all on a waiting list for council homes and were living in atrocious conditions for two years. Just when they were due for consideration they were put to the back of the waiting list and the immigrants were jumped to the front. One of her sons had committed suicide shortly after.

If that wasn’t bad enough she continued with her story of misery. One of her granddaughters was viciously raped and left for dead by an Asian immigrant from Uganda. He was caught and charged but his light sentence reflected the States acceptance that he had been through hell in Uganda and was not fully in possession of his faculties at the time.

I empathised with this ladies pain and understood why bigotry can get such a big hold in people’s lives. She said she could forgive if she felt that all had been done to stop it from happening to others. Every time she saw a black person she had anxiety attacks. In London that would mean a constant state of tension. The only way she could see change was to stop all immigration whatever their colour. Her anger and grief had blinded her to the fact that she was supporting a party that would, if it got into power, create far greater pain and misery for society at large.

I tell this story because three and a half years ago my life as I knew it was shattered. Every day I struggle to trust that my property and child are safe. I know that there are laws that are suppose to protect me and my child but have learnt that they in fact do not.
There is a subtext to all law that eliminates us from all being treated as equal. The Female of the species has become an elitist gender. I cannot go into detail regarding the facts and should you require them you will have to wait for my book.

One thing I do know……if you empathise with my plight from having been there your self, think beyond revenge and short term solutions.