Calm down about the Notting Hill Carnival
Spectator (UK)Aug 26
UK: Eight Stabbed at London's Notting Hill Carnival
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Above: Revelers attend the Notting Hill Carnival on Aug. 26, 2024 in London, United Kingdom. Image copyright: Alishia Abodunde/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
London's Metropolitan Police said that eight people were stabbed at this year's Notting Hill Carnival, adding that 50 officers were injured and that 334 arrests were made during the event.
The two-day street party — a celebration of Caribbean music and culture dating back to the 1960s — started small, but is now typically attended by more than 1M people each year. It is marked by colorful costumes, music and dancing, but has been marred by instances of violence and criminality as well.
The Spin
Narrative A
Notting Hill Carnival is supposed to be a community event — but every year, it's marred by unacceptable levels of violence. Police shouldn't have to repeat the same message every year. Organizers need to do more to tackle the criminality or the future of the event could be put at risk.
Narrative B
Notting Hill Carnival is attended by more than 1M people and the shameful actions of a small minority shouldn't tarnish its whole image. Similar levels of crime are committed at Glastonbury Festival — predominantly attended by middle-class white people — but no one calls for that event to be shut down.
