Youth group says ‘sorry’ for Tottenham riots

by Flora Drury Friday, August 3, 2012
5:56 PM

A group of young people from north London have taken it upon themselves to say “sorry” to the community in Tottenham for last summer’s riots.

Teenagers and their young team leaders dressed in “sorry” t-shirts were handing out free cups of tea, coffee and hot chocolate, as well as slices of homemade cake, outside 639 High Road this afternoon (Friday) as they apologised to the community.

Despite the fact these young people were not involved in the riots, they had decided someone needed to say sorry for the role young people in last August’s disturbances.

The group - part of Christian charity n:flame, which brings together young people from churches across north London - have spent the week in Tottenham apologising to shop keepers, residents and the police.

Team leader Kuria Amoyaw, 23, said: “We are saying sorry because we are the generation who started it. As a 23-year-old, I am sorry women my age went into shops looting them.

“We just thought no one else is taking the time to say sorry. Everybody played the blame game. We thought we cannot let another year go by [without someone taking responsibility].”

- The group have asked for people to wear t-shirts saying “sorry” on Monday, the anniversary of the riots.