I was dismayed to read readers’ replies criticising Joe Mulhall’s article and appearing to echo the characterisation by some rightwing commentators that the riots arise from genuine grievances or legitimate root causes (Letters, 7 August). Let’s be clear: the root cause of these disturbances is anti-immigrant racism. There is no justification for that and it should never be appeased or excused. Anyone who felt the serious anxiety of non-white friends or colleagues during the riots is disinclined to temper their descriptions of these people or admit genuine grievances. Their prosecutions have shown that they are often not deprived, jobless or even young, and have travelled to other communities to spread hate and fear. Yes, it is important to counter deprivation and work for social cohesion, but what we have just seen is the old stain of fascism, not some cry for help from the disadvantaged. Keith Oliver Nottingham Elaine Henderson doubts that the situation can improve in the long term (Letters, 7 August). How about this? Set up a programme across all secondary schools where, say, once a month, all the students and staff are shown films about the reasons behind the development of racist attitudes and beliefs. They would learn that, as Britain began to exploit resources overseas, people of colour were deliberately denigrated so that the consciences of “Christian” colonisers would not be troubled by the inhumane exploitation and violence required to build wealth. There is so much archive material to choose from, eg David Olusoga’s Black and British: A Forgotten History. Racist attitudes that developed over centuries will take a long time to eradicate, and educational settings are the best places to start. Policing and jail can stop riots, but they will not build understanding and empathy. Diana Basterfield Stroud, Gloucestershire Eleanor Creed (Letters, 7 August) writes: “even on the Guardian letters page … I read language such as ‘neo-Nazi scum’. The prime minister and the home secretary call the rioters ‘thugs’. There is also pressure to call them ‘terrorists’. This name-calling does not help.” Does she, in that case, have any helpful suggestions as to what we should instead call people who injure policemen, torch cars, burn down libraries and loot shops? Not to mention stamping on heads. Thugs sounds fairly accurate. So does terrorists, since their aim is to terrorise others. “Poor misunderstood victims of society” is possible, I suppose, but might give the wrong impression. Sheenagh Burns Hoswick, Shetland