A woman shouting into the face of a Sikh boy (maybe 12 years old), as they passed each othere, walking in opposite directions past Starbucks at the top of Gallowtree Gate: "You should be ashamed!" she spat out - thrusting her face into his (without breaking stride), underlining that last word. The boy was wearing a small black top knot on his head, not quite a turban, but apparently close enough to allow her to believe she had reason to bark at him. The poor fellow was visibly shaken but kept on walking. The woman was a person in considerable distress. That much was clear from the way she was walking (and the speed at which she was walking, charging up Gallowtree Gate then swinging round into Horsefair Street in the direction of the Town Hall). She was also wearing one green gardening glove, with which she was scooping cigarette ends off the top of bins and depositing them inside. It wouldn't be the first time someone with mental health issues had lashed out at an innocent member of the public. Of course, perhaps I misread this one. I'd like to think that I did; but still ...
Shortly after that: a group of teens in Highcross, chanting "Nin-ja! Nin-ja!" when they spott two women wearing full burkas. I'd like to think that the teens were doing it more for their own amusement then with the intention of threatening anyone: but still ...
When we say that Leicester is a tolerant multicultural city, what do we mean? How do people in Leicester learn how to live that way?
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