New campaign against disabled hate crime in Bolton

On Friday 25th June, during Learning Disability Week 2011, a new disability hate crime campaign will be launched in Bolton, Greater Manchester

The aim of the campaign, called I'm Not Laughing, is to ensure that everyone who visits Bolton town centre on a night out can do so without fear of being verbally or physically abused because of a disability.

I'm Not Laughing was launched following a
letter to Greater Manchester Police from a 19 year old with Achondroplasia, which is restricted growth, after she experienced a serious hate incident in a Bolton town centre bar.

She says: "What made it worse, was the door staff, they just stood there, with their arms folded, watching and sniggering, without making any attempt to stop the group.

"The lads surrounded us and it was very frightening. Yet still the door staff did nothing."

You can support I'm Not Laughing by signing the online pledge, which is still being created, and by joining the Facebook page.

The Bolton Council website also contains more stores of people experiencing disability hate crime (the Downloads section).

You can report hate crime to Greater Manchester Police and to True Vision.

Supporters of the campaign include paralympic swimmer Rachel Latham, England cricketer Saj Mahmood and Bolton Active Disability Group for Everyone (BADGE).

Scum prevent disabled children from going on school trips:

In related news, pupils at Birches specialist support primary school in West Didsbury are unable to go on school trips after the catalytic converter was stolen from their bus for the second time in a month.

Headteacher Andy Pitts told the Manchester Evening News: "I’m so angry. We’re an easy target – the bus is parked in a disability parking area. It’s obvious what it is.

"I’m hoping to prick the public conscience – it’s preventing children with a range of profound and multiple disabilities going out in the community."