(Image Source: SkyNews)
BY EMOKE BEBIAK
ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO
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Festival-goers felt the effects of the recent riots in London at the Notting Hill Carnival. The two-day event celebrating Caribbean culture was under increased police scrutiny due to fears of new riots. The carnival is the biggest street event in Europe, attracting over a million people. (Video: euronews)
“The Metropolitan Police Service ... has canceled all staff vacations and called in reinforcements from other police forces around the country to provide security during the Notting Hill carnival...”
According to Voice of America, some believed the carnival should have been cancelled...
“Because of the early August riots, authorities questioned whether the West London festival should be held this year. Organizers saw the carnival as a way to re-unite the community.”
A blogger for The Guardian argues -- holding the carnival was the right decision.
“The carnival is correctly perceived as a black event; however, much of the media has subtly and speciously presented the riots as being black too. To prevent the former going ahead because of the latter would promote the idea they are intrinsically connected...”
With 6,500 police officers on the streets and another 4,000 in reserve, euronews reports, the carnival -- which ended Monday -- went down relatively peacefully.
“...the event billed as one of the biggest of its kind in the world passed off with fewer arrests than last year. The second and final day of carnival saw some isolated incidents of violence. One man was taken to hospital with stab wounds.”
Carnival-goers were also mindful of the pressure. The Deputy Mayor of London tells The Kensington and Chelsea Chronicle...
"You could sense a change in the atmosphere from previous years, in that people were kind of on their best behaviour because they knew the world was watching."
London Mayor Boris Johnson tells BBC News the success of the carnival was especially important this year as it serves as a preview for next year’s Olympics.
“We’re coming up to the Olympics now, we’re running the biggest-ever carnival in 2012, and I’m very pleased with the spirit so far with which people are celebrating today.”
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