13 February 2023 , 10:27
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Ranvir Singh and Rob Rinder discussed rising racism among school pupils in the UK on Monday's Good Morning Britain following the horrific attack on a schoolgirl outside Thomas Knyvett College in Ashford, Surrey.
Rob began: "More than 7,000 children in England were suspended from school last year for incidents including racially motivated assaults, vile language and social media taunts according to new government figures uncovered by the Sunday Mirror."
"This comes after Surrey police arrested several people following what they described as a serious racially aggravated assault on a Black schoolgirl," Ranvir continued.
"There is a video going around, the police said please don't keep showing it because it's clearly deeply distressing but perhaps you've already seen it."
Ranvir Singh and Rob Rinder hosted GMB on Monday (ITV)Ranvir commented that these cases "appear to be on the rise".
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The GMB discussion centred around what can be done to "tackle racism in schools".
Later in the debate, Ranvir revealed: "I remember in my childhood and when I was a bit older there was a sense of 'keep your head down' because that's what your parents did.
"I saw my dad's turban being knocked off down the street. All the words [being said to us], everything that you know. Teachers singling me out and treating me differently."
Sayce Holmes-Lewis, founder of a mentoring organisation for young people and journalist Tiwa Adebayo joined the hosts (ITV)In the GMB studio, Stuart Lawrence, former teacher and brother of Stephen Lawrence, Sayce Holmes-Lewis, founder of a mentoring organisation for young people and journalist Tiwa Adebayo joined the hosts.
The guests stressed the importance of education in schools to help reduce racism in schools and giving pupils the confidence to speak out if they experience racism.
A 15-year-old schoolgirl was beaten outside Thomas Knyvett College while her attackers were encouraged by adults.
Stuart Lawrence, former teacher and brother of Stephen Lawrence was also on the panel (ITV)A protest was held near the school on Wednesday and MPs have since demanded an investigation following an online backlash over the clip.
Four people have been arrested on suspicion of attempted racially aggravated grevious bodily harm (GBH), including a 39-year-old woman, a 16-year-old and two 11-year-old girls.
The 39-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were also arrested on suspicion of child neglect and intentionally encouraging and assisting the commission of an indictable only offence.
The 16-year-old girl was also arrested on suspicion of malicious communications while a sixth suspect, a 15-year-old girl, is yet to hand herself in.
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