Cher Maximen was stabbed in the groin while attending the Notting Hill Carnival last week, with her three-year-old daughter present at the time. The Metropolitan Police confirmed her death last Saturday morning. In a separate incident, Mussie Imnetu, a talented chef who had worked under the renowned Gordon Ramsay, lost his life due to injuries sustained in a brutal attack. While the Metropolitan Police have clarified that Imnetu’s attack did not occur at or during the carnival itself, the proximity of the incident – both in location and timing – has led many to draw connections to the event. The attack was said to have taken place at a nearby venue hosting “carnival-related activities”.
Notting Hill Carnival is one of the largest and most famous street festivals in the world, and it’s also the largest in Europe. Over its two-day run, it can attract up to two million visitors. According to the organisers, part of their mission is to deliver an event of immense value both culturally and economically, while also producing a safe and spectacular experience.
And the carnival is a safe event. Given that it attracts millions of people, the number of arrests and incidents remains proportionally low. Only a small fraction of bad actors, intent on causing mayhem and disorder, engage in problematic behaviour. These troublemakers are in the minority, while the vast majority of carnival-goers enjoy a joyful and trouble-free event.
But the violence and antisocial behaviour that does occur should not be brushed aside.There is absolutely no room for justification or whataboutism when it comes to such serious breaches of public safety. For those directly affected by violence at the carnival – whether as victims, loved ones, or bystanders – discussions about proportional safety rates are meaningless. Statistical justifications cannot take away from their real and personal experiences of fear, pain, and loss.
To clarify, the Notting Hill Carnival is a much-needed event. We are at a time where we could use some fun and enjoyment. Given the challenges and turmoil facing the world today, celebrations like this provide a vital opportunity for community connection, cultural expression, and joyful release. The carnival offers a chance to come together and momentarily set aside our worries through music, dance, great food, and the company of friends.
This is why it is absolutely paramount to call out the violence that occurs, even if it is claimed to be limited to isolated incidents.
But to do so effectively, there are two things we must bear in mind:
Firstly, highlighting the facts of the event, such as arrest rates and the types of crime that occurred, is not racist, even if the individuals involved are black. To claim otherwise is a flawed attempt to deflect from accountability and obscure the real issues. Such deflection happens too often. For example, defenders of the event criticise those who share videos of disorderly conduct that take place, accusing them of spreading propaganda to malign a community. However, the real concern should not be the videos being shared but the behaviour they capture. How can it be considered propaganda when the videos are simply reflecting real events?
Secondly, we must stop comparing it to other events for validation purposes. For instance, in discussions about the carnival’s safety, comparisons to other large events like Glastonbury Festival are often made. While it’s true that crime is statistically higher at the festival, considering the ratio of attendees to incidents, there is actually less chance of being a victim or in the vicinity of a stabbing at the festival. Personally, a stabbing is one of the most egregious things that can happen at any event. This year alone, there were 8 stabbings and 18 offences related to the possession of a deadly weapon at the carnival. It’s reaching a point where stabbings and knife-related incidents seem almost expected at Notting Hill Carnival, but this shouldn’t be the case.
If we don’t want stabbings to be essentialised as part of black culture, we should worry less about the ‘racists’ who insinuate that this is a ‘black problem’ and more about the stark reality that black people are over-represented both as perpetrators and victims of knife crime, both at the carnival and beyond.
Progressives seem to love statistics until they’re confronted with uncomfortable truths. The statistical fact that knife-related violence disproportionately affects black people and their families is something they consistently and conveniently ignore.
The Notting Hill Carnival remains a vital celebration of culture and community, one that brings joy to millions. However, we cannot ignore the recurring incidents of violence that threaten to overshadow its positive impact. Calling for it to be completely closed down is not the way forward but we would do well to listen to those – both on the Left and Right – who have reasonable suggestions to make it safer. Perhaps it’s time to accept that the event has outgrown its ability to ensure public safety effectively.
It’s also past time to stop playing politics and ideological games and have an honest conversation about knife crime in black communities. Enough with the soft bigotry of low expectations and the refusal to hold communities accountable for fear of being labelled insensitive, racist or a traitor. The black community deserves better than to be treated
like fragile children who can’t handle the truth about their own circumstances. At the end of the day, it is black youths who continue to die senselessly on our streets.
Ada Akpala is the senior content officer of The Equiano Project.
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Image credit: Adrian Scottow
