Novara Media: How disorder broke out in East Leeds

Novara Media | by Craig Gent 19 July 2024

A powerful report from Novara Media takes readers inside the streets of Harehills during the July 2024 unrest — not just to document the flames, but to amplify the voices behind the outrage.

The article highlights the removal of Roma children from their family as the spark that ignited long-standing frustration with policing, racial profiling, and neglect. Community members describe confusion, fear, and feeling under siege — not only by the police but by the way the media portrayed them.

Green councillor Mothin Ali is featured as one of the few local figures who didn’t just show up — but stood with residents, listened, and helped calm the situation.

“When you live here, you don’t get to watch from the sidelines.” - Mothin Ali

Read the full piece on Novara Media:
“We’re All Getting Attacked” – Novara Media

“We need cooler heads,” says Ali. “We need to grab every member of the community, we need a mass community initiative where we engage everyone who feels let down.”