Question D

[Jonetta]

The first case Bryant and team investigate is the brutal beating of Henryk Kowalski, a Polish immigrant. Did you believe him to be a victim of a hate crime at the time or something else?

[Sharon]

When they first read the file it sounded like a drug deal gone bad, but as soon as they interviewed Henryk it was clear by the name calling that there was a lot of hate against him because he was an immigrant. Honestly, I wasn't aware that immigration issues were an issue in England. This book was enlightening.

[Jonetta]

Though I am well aware of England’s current issues related to immigrants, I didn’t think that included people of Polish origin. I didn’t know what the sticker BNP stood for, which was in Gary Flint’s window. I researched it and learned it’s the far right wing party. Then I started suspecting this might be a hate crime.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I thought this was an interesting aspect of getting to know more about English culture, more than just the royal stories we often get especially at the moment. I suspected there may be racial problems in some parts (as there are world over) in light of what came out in the Brexit referendum. And so sadly awful hate crimes happen everywhere there is immigration.

[Sharon]

I think the fact that Henryk was Polish threw me off. I watch a lot of documentaries and recently watch one on the Solidarity movement. The relations with the UK & the US were mentioned as supportive. Like most countries, I guess it is hard to watch immigrants get jobs when unemployment is high with native citizens.

[Jonetta]

That’s the narrative that the far right wing groups propel but isn’t supported by facts.

[Lynn]

I had no idea that it was a hate crime in the beginning, but I did believe that whatever the reason for the beating, it was definitely related to something else in the story.