Calm down about the Notting Hill Carnival
Spectator (UK)AUG 2024
UK: Eight Stabbed at London's Notting Hill Carnival
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 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.