The Magdalen street shop arson attack has clearly united many in the fine city of Norwich.

My own reaction was uncontrollable sobbing for over eight hours. Twenty seven years ago I set up a group called Families for Racial Equality (FFRE) after I was racially attacked three times in as many days in and around Norwich whilst pushing my son in his pushchair.

As a white woman with a mixed race child I was suddenly to be hated and derided.

On Friday when the news broke, it felt as if nothing had changed in those 27 years.

The street is the centre for so many diverse people and is a jewel in the city.

This attack shook me to my very bones as has the whole racist activity post-Brexit.

My neighbour voted out. Since then he has displayed a union jack by his doorway and ignored my messages,including the one where I shared my despair about the arson attack.

Unless we really talk about the fact that some people are racist and try and find ways of discussing this I fear for the safety of those I love and care for.

Friends of mine have brushed over the incident and pointed to the outpouring of support and money being raised.

That is not enough. That is common human decency. Has decency become so rare that we have to turn it into a victory?

Don't brush over the fact that someone, or a number of people,made the decision to carry out this vile act.

I remember the marches in the 1970s and 80s where the National Front and British National Party were terrifying ordinary people. We need to be active in finding out who these people are, hold them to account and stop them from recruiting others.

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•Letters editor: police are keeping an open mind over the attack on The

Village Shop – which sells Eastern European food