| ShareTweetForward Press Release… for immediate release 12,000 march in London, 3,000 in Glasgow and 600 in Cardiff to #ResistRacism and build opposition to the government’s ‘Illegal Migration Bill’ 👉🏿 SCROLL DOWN FOR SPEAKER QUOTES 🎥 FOR VIDEOS & PICS OF SPEAKERS – CLICK ON SPEAKER NAME BELOW Thousands joined Stand Up To Racism’s #ResistRacism marches today, co organised with Trades Union Congress (TUC), Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) and Wales TUC Cymru. Some 12,000 marched in London, assembling at the BBC in the wake of the events surrounding Gary Lineker and Match Of The Day. Meanwhile 3,000 marched in Glasgow and 600 marched in Cardiff. A newly adopted chant was taken up by the marchers, reflecting a confidence as they took to the streets in a vibrant and determined anti racist mobilisation: “We’re with Lineker, We’re with Wrighty – Anti racists always Mighty” Anti racists from across Britain were vocal in their anger and opposition to the government’s contraversial #IllegalMigrationBill. Marchers said they were taking to the streets to say #refugeeswelcome, and to fight institutional racism and demand justice in the spirit of #BlackLivesMatter. Stand Up To Racism and the TUC’s demonstrations trended once again on social media with #ResistRacism and #RefugeesWelcome, as anti racist marches flooded in pictures from coaches making their way across England, Scotland and Wales, and joined marches, with delegations from a spread of unions, campaigns, student groups, refugee rights and anti racist organisations and local areas. The marches were part of a global day of action (see www.worldagainstracism.org and @worldvsracism on Twitter) with coordinated protests also organised in Austria, Catalonia, Spanish state, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Tunisia and the US. Here in Britain, Stand Up To Racism and the TUC’s marches were also backed by the National Education Union (NEU), UNISON , Unite, Public & Commercial Services Union (PCS), Fire Brigades Union (FBU), the Communication Workers Union (CWU), the University and College Union (UCU), the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), NASUWT, Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), Musicians’ Union (MU), Equity, Community, the national union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), ASLEF – The UK Train Drivers’ Union, Usdaw Union, National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO), the POA, Care4Calais, Refugee Council, Scottish Refugee Council, Muslim Engagement & Development (MEND), Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), Finsbury Park Mosque, Jewish Socialist Group, Citizenship Is A Right Coalition, Day-Mer, Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), Stop the War Coalition, Drive2Survive, GR8, the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, Positive Action in Housing, Afghan Human Rights Foundation, Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding, Love Music Hate Racism, Unite Against Fascism and others. 🎥 FOR VIDEOS & PICS OF SPEAKERS – CLICK ON SPEAKER NAME BELOW 👉🏿 FOR SPEAKERS LIST AT GLASGOW & CARDIFF RALLIES EMAIL: INFO@STANDUPTORACISM.ORG.UK LONDON RALLIES CO COMPERED BY Sabby Dhalu Stand Up To Racism co convenor, Brian Richardson Stand Up To Racism, Chantelle Lunt Merseyside BLM & Myriam Kane Stand Up To Racism Gary Younge, journalist, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Kevin Courtney, NEU General Secretary, Diane Abbott MP, Marcia Rigg, United Friends and Family campaign, Andrea Egan, Unison President, Clare Moseley, Care for Calais, Dean Pounder, FBU North East Region, Aisha Malik-Smith UNITE London & Eastern Women & Equalities Officer , Michael Rosen, author & poet, David Denny, Barbados Reparations Campaign, Weyman Bennett, SUTR Co-Convenor, Angela Grant, PCS NEC, John McDonnell MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP Albaster Deplume, Jazz musician, Paula Peters, Disabled People Against the Cuts, Kate Hudson, CWU Head of Equality, Education & Development, Amit Malde, FBU Black & Ethnic Minority Members secretary, Ian Hodson, BFAWU National President, Daniel York Loh, EQUITY, Hector Wesley, BARAC, Ricky Jones, TSSA BAME organiser, Ulrike Schmidt, Amnesty Regional Co-Ordinator for Europe, Mustafa Al-Dabbagh, Muslim Association of Britain, Delia Mattis, Black Lives Matter & social justice activist, David Rosenberg, Jewish Socialists’ Group, Bhavini Patel, Extinction Rebllion, Ian Lawrence, NAPO general secretary, Lawrence Davies, Equal Justice, Belly Mujinga lawyer, Jake Bowers, Drive 2 Survive, Shelly Asquith, Stop the War Coalition, Harsev Bains, Indian Workers Association, Ryan Colaço, justice campaigner, Virgil Bitu, GR8, Fiona Sim, Justice for Sim family, Michael Abatan Jay Abatan Campaign GLASGOW RALLY Ruby Hirsch, Stand Up to Racism, Aamer Anwar, human rights lawyer and solicitor of the Sheku Bayoh family, Julie O’Sullivan, Erskine resident speaks out, Lena Wanggren UCU Scotland president, Sabir Zazai, CEO of Scottish Refugee Council, Robina Qureshi, Positive Action In Housing, Gordon Martin RMT Scotland, Liz McGachey, PCS Scotland, Raza Sadiq STUC Black Workers Committee vice-chair, Roz Foyer STUC general secretary, Mohammad Asif Afghan Human Rights Foundation, statement from Linsay Taylor MEND Scotland, Statement from Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, Sunita Nayyer, EIS (EIS anti-racist subcommittee), Colin Brown FBU Scotland, Chris Stephens SNP MP, Paul Sweeney Scottish Labour MSP, Davena Rankin Unison Scotland, Claire Pedan Unite Scotland, speaker form Indian Workers Association, asylum seeker from Newcastle Wilf Sullivan, TUC Race Equality Officer and co organiser of the march and rally, said: “Today thousands of people demonstrated their solidarity with those fleeing war, persecution and climate change, and against this government’s racist policies. “Thousands of people showed that they will not be fooled by the divide and rule tactics, that they will not be diverted from the real issues resulting from austerity the cost of living crisis the defunding of public services and the destruction of the NHS.” Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism co convenor, said: “Today’s marches in London, Glasgow and Cardiff drew together not only thousands in numbers to march against the government’s racist offensive, but were a reflection of the united coalition to instill anti racism in Britain across many trade unions, charities and refugee human rights organisations, faith groups, campaigns and activists. “It is mobilising this kind of broad and united mass action that can effectively drive back the government’s truly despicable policies. They want to divide and rule. Today was also part of an internationally coordinated day of anti racist protest. “We are part of a mighty movement, and that’s what we need, here and internationally, to push back the threat of the far right, fascists and the wider racist assault that gives them the space to grow.” Sabby Dhalu, Stand Up To Racism con convenor, said: “We’re delighted thousands marched to oppose the refugee ban bill, government attempts to scapegoat refugees and migrants, and stir up racism. The government’s inflammatory rhetoric is being used by far right and fascist groups to build support. “We pledged to stand up and unite against racism and fascism, and fight this horrific proposed legislation that bans the right to seek asylum.” Gary Younge, journalist, author and campaigner, said: [Directed to the government] “Shame on you that it took a sports presenter to make a moral case for why this is a disgraceful and disgusting government pursuing a disgraceful and disgusting policy. “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here!” Diane Abbott MP said: “When I hear this debate around race and migration, I think of my parents who came here over 60 years ago. If Sunak and Braverman had their way, my parents would have been packed on a plane and sent to Rwanda. “This government is pushing an unfair and cruel set of policies“. Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP said: “There is an easy way to stop small boats… it’s safe and legal routes, establishing that asylum claims have safe and legal routes. “People would not want to do this and would not unless they are absolutely desperate. In Calais, with Jeremy, we saw how awful it is, I cant believe the idea that France is a safe country. We saw how UK taxpayers’ money is being used, destroying their tents, every single day, driving them into the sea they claim they want to keep them from.” Jeremy Corbyn MP said: “We saw people traumatised, impoverished, thirsty and hungry. Our newspapers describe them as a marauding army coming to our shores. None of us here in Whitehall today would willingly get on one of those dangerous, leaky boats.. “These people risk all. We are not here to defend people traffickers or anything like that. We are here to stand by people who in their desperation are searching for a place of safety. “It is not a solution to incarcerate them in this country or remove them to Rwanda. The only way is the human way – safe routes.” John McDonnell MP said: “Tell everybody you know to write to the religious bodies, to local community organisations, and to contact every MP as well and tell them – you cannot support this bill. You cannot support imprisoning children yet again… “How can we call ourselves a civilised country when we imprison children?” Clare Moseley, Care4Calais CEO, spoke at the Downing Street rally and read a message from an asylum seeker inside the hotel in Knowsley that was targetted by the far right, which was addressed to the anti racist counter protest outside: “Your presence on the night of the demonstration had a great impact on us and touched our hearts with warmth between all nationalities. This is the highest meaning of humanity. I said to the Syrian friends in here, ‘these are the English people who stood by us with their humanity. A few thugs who represent an almost insignificant minority do not measure up to representing these English people”. Clare added: “With the Government launching the most bitter and powerful attack on refugees ever seen in this country’s history, it is vital that we stand together to resist it. Today that happened, and we were all inspired to build on it.” Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism co convenor, said at the rally: “It’s solidarity and unity we need. We are told that 200 refugee children have gone missing. We demand answers and Justice. These are our children. These people are the same as us. We want them to be treated like human beings – we will not allow the politicians to use scapegoating people to divide us.” Sabby Dhalu, Stand Up To Racism co convenor, added: “It is their racist rhetoric that is building far right and fascist organisations like Patriotic Alternative and Britain First. They are using Suella Braverman’s language of ‘invasion’ against refugees. We reject the politics of division and racism”. Chantelle Lunt, Merseyside BLM, who was a co compere of the rally, added: “It’s time for our class to stand up and fight back” Marcia Rigg, justice campaigner and sister of Sean Rigg who was killed in police custody, said: “We need to put the state in trial for the murder, misogyny, and racism inflicted on our people. No justice, no peace – No racist police!” For further information and to request interviews contact National office SUTR: info@standuptoracism.org.uk SUTR Scotland: SUTRscot@gmail.com SUTR Wales: standuptoracismwales@gmail.com |
