For immediate release:
Saturday 20 June
Video and picture gallery HERE
Full livestreamed rally HERE
On World Refugee Day, Stand Up to Racism was proud to hold a peaceful and socially distanced demonstration of more than 1,500 people in George Square to declare “Glasgow says no to racism — Refugees Welcome, Black Lives Matter.” The protest brought together people from across Glasgow, showing the unity of the city’s people, regardless of skin colour, ethnicity or religion.
Following the shameful scenes of violence by racist thugs and intimidation in George Square over the previous week, the anti-racist demonstrators chanted: “Whose streets? Our streets! Whose city? Our City!”
Mohammad Naveen Asif of the Afghan Human Rights Foundation reminded the crowd of the city’s great anti-racist traditions, saying: “Glasgow was one of the first cities to welcome Nelson Mandela.”
He added, pointing to the impact of Johnson’s racist policies and rhetoric in fuelling the confidence of racist forces, “Boris Johnson described Muslim women as bank robbers – all these years and I never knew my mum or my wife were bank robbers… I would have thought I’d have had more money! But thank you Boris Johnson for telling me”.
Aamer Anwar, the well known civil rights lawyer, and lawyer for the family of Sheku Bayoh, who are still seeking justice five years on from Sheku’s death at the hands of the police in Fife, sent a message of support to the demonstration. “Fantastic, beautiful response”, he said, “you have taken back George Square. Thank you for making true the slogan People Make Glasgow.”
Aamer continued: “The Scottish Police Federation have tried to say there is a moral equivalence between the far-right racist, loyalist thugs and peaceful anti-racists, this is abhorrent and grotesque, [and is] pandering to racism.”
The protest enjoyed wide support from across Scottish civic society, being sponsored by Black Lives Matter Glasgow, RMT Scotland, FBU Scotland, Positive Action in Housing, Afghan Human Rights Foundation, Zagros the Kurdish Scottish Association, Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, Social Work Action Network, among others. The crowd heard from a wide range of speakers, including Edwin Alvis and Barrington Reeves of Black Lives Matter, Robina Qureshi, Postive Action Housing, Helen McFarlane from Unite the union, and Andrew Fullwood from the teachers’ union the EIS. There was also a message of support from Carlo Morelli, Scotland president of the lecturers’ union the UCU, as well as Labour’s Pauline McNeil and SNP’s Sandra White.
Sandra White MSP sent a message of solidarity, saying that the protestors’ message of “refugees welcome here” represented the true spirit of the people of Glasgow and of Scotland.
The protest was an important statement that the racist thugs who attacked anti-racists, refugees and asylum seekers, and anyone from an ethnic minority who happened to be in George Square, do not represent the people of Glasgow. It is regrettable that, as our poignant, peaceful and disciplined socially distanced protest ended, the police chose to kettle a section of the protestors, refusing to let them out of the square.
This contrasts with events on Sunday 14June and Wednesday 17 June, when the police escorted peaceful anti-racists, refugees and asylum seekers from the square, and allowed racist thugs to run amok. During today’s protest, a small band of fewer than 40 far-right individuals stood at the east end of George Square under the pretext of “protecting” the cenotaph, which was never under threat.
Today, the ‘People Make Glasgow’ skyline above George Square was more apt than ever, as the square was filled by people, black and white, united in a powerful #TakeTheKnee moment.
Charlotte Ahmed of Stand Up to Racism, Scotland said
“Today’s demonstration was a magnificent expression of the unity, the anti-racism and the anti-fascism of the people of Glasgow. Here, in George Square, the very place where thousands of us welcomed Nelson Mandela to Scotland, we have made it clear: refugees are welcome here, Black Lives Matter, no racists in Glasgow. No pasaran!”
Fayrouz Kraish, compere of today’s rally, Stand Up To Racism Scotland & Unite BAEM Committee Scotland, said
“Seeing a sea of anti racists in George square today gave me a sense of unity and a community of hope for the future, where racism can be defeated and history won’t repeat itself. We must challenge all form of prejudice in order to keep the human race united.”
Joseph Mendy, FBU National Secretary Black & Ethnic Minority Members, said
“The FBU fully support and are in solidarity with Stand Up To Racism. We would like to loudly add our voice to the echoing voices of “Enough is Enough” in terms of Racial Inequality worldwide. We should all strive to eradicate Racism from Civil Services and deliver Social Justice for all. We should try to encourage the elimination of the Systematic Racism within our society.
“This is an opportunity for a fresh focus on righting the wrongs of the past, so we don’t repeat them in the future as we are all members of the one Race the Human Race.”
Robina Qureshi, Positive Action Housing, said
“We condemn the disgraceful scenes of the last few days whereby far right thugs spat on and intimidated refugees peacefully gathering in a public square for the human right housing. This is not the Glasgow we know and we don’t want this far right thuggery in our city.
“By gathering united at safe distance we are saying NO to racism and fascism and YES to a Glasgow that is united in diversity.”
Gordon Martin, RMT Scotland Organiser said
“RMT opposes all racism, bigotry and discrimination and believe only working class unity and solidarity can advance humanity in Scotland and across the world.
We cannot allow fascists and racists control of our streets, workplaces schools or anywhere else in society. Unity is strength”.
Mohammad Asif, Afghan Human Rights Foundation, said
“Afghan Human Rights Foundation is completely appalled by the shameful scenes of racist thuggery that took place in Glasgow George Square. There is never any excuse for violence or intimidation and this behaviour has no place in Scotland. Attacking peaceful protesters is utterly disgusting and shameful.
“Let’s not give equivalence to different groups of demonstrators. As the Director of Afghan Human Rights Foundation said, One group is fighting FOR equality and AGAINST prejudice while the other is fighting AGAINST equality and FOR prejudice.
“We applaud Stand Up To Racism for calling the protest under the banner of “Glasgow Says No To Racism”.
Notes to editors:
1) Stand Up To Racism is a national, broad based campaign set up to combat the rise of racism, the far right and fascism, and is supported by major trade unions, faith and community groups. Stand Up To Racism stands in solidarity with the movement for #BlackLivesMatter
For quotes and interviews:
sutrglasgow@gmail.com / info@standuptoracism.org.uk