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I have no doubt that it came as a surprise to many of our American cousins that England is not all “cups of tea” and “having lunch with the queen,” after disturbing images of the UK riots hit TV screens last week. 

However, the bare fact remains that some truths about a country can only be known if you live there. Well, at least that’s what one would assume. 

PHOTOS: Over 600 People Busted In London Riots

Like many other spectators, I have watched police and politicians come on TV blasting the “mindless” youths who were “destroying their own communities.”

While I can understand the shock from international onlookers as they witnessed Britain’s civilised facade come undone, I  cannot help but be bewildered by the sheer blindness and disconnection that our leaders displayed, after they claimed virtually in unison that they had “no idea” that this would ever happened.

In response, I want to set the record straight once and for all: we had this coming.

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Tensions 

These riots are not just the results of a few bored teenagers deciding they want to go on a rampage. Nor is this a dramatic cry for help from those in society who feel ignored.

While the riots may not be seen as a “cause,” they are the consequence of rising, racial tensions, police brutality and political corruption, that has simply not been dealt with over the years.

“They think we are stupid,” one of the Hackney rioters, who wanted to remain anonymous, tells me.

He adds: “They [Government] think that we don’t even know what is going on, but they can’t hide from us anymore. We are talking amongst ourselves, and when they f*ck up, we are looking at them together.” 

“We message each other and we bring each other in on what they doing to us. It is not like before, we [young people] are all connected now. We stand as a unit.” 

It must be noted for those who might not be familiar with recent British Government “f*ck ups,” over the last year we have seen three major scandals break that have rocked the moral core of our country. 

Firstly, we have the MP’s expenses scandal, which in short, was the revelation that some of our politicians had been illegally claiming tax payers money and using it to fund their lavish lifestyles.

Secondly, we have the growing tensions between the Black community and the police after four Black men died while in police contact this year, including Mark Duggan, 29, whose death was said to have sparked off the riots last weekend (Aug 6).

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Thirdly, we have the media scandal after it was uncovered that some of our biggest newspapers had not only been hacking peoples phones, but allegedly also “bribed” senior police officers to keep their mouths shut. 

Now sprinkle in rising tuition fees and record numbers of unemployment and that’s a recipe for a riot!

Sixteen year-old student “Lisa,” who asked me to change her name, admitted to me that she looted.

She says: “It was not just about stealing, and I know that is what people are saying. People messaged me to come and join to protest against the police and I just think people got fed up of getting no answers standing there.” 

She adds: “Like I said, it wasn’t just stealing for most of us, that wasn’t the actual point. Everything happened because one thing lead to another.” 

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Aftermath

Now here we are, 1401 arrests, 1,700 fires, plus an uncounted number of destroyed lives later, and nothing has been solved.

I think it is also safe to say that the “point” was lost the moment the peaceful protest outside Tottenham police station against the killing of father of four, Duggan, turned violent.

As someone who has lived in Hackney all my life, an area that was devastated by the unrest, I have seen first hand what the effects that the riots have left. Everyday it breaks my heart to see homes burned out, local shops boarded up and once vibrant streets turned into ghost towns.

A week on from the riots and our politicians fresh from their summer vacations, are back home giving us “answers.”

Worryingly, it still appears that none of them have begun to ask young people any questions, demonstrating the deep disconnection between politicians and citizens.

After watching Russell Simmons’ “message to young people of London” video with Lisa, she asked me: “Now do you think that David Cameron [Prime Minister] would actually care enough to make a message like that to any of us? Do you think he would even bother talking to us if he didn’t have to?” 

“I don’t think so!” she laughed. 

-Akilah Russell