| PRESS RELEASE… For immediate releas18 March 2022 Thousands set to join tomorrow’s All Refugees Welcome – March Against Racism to mark UN Anti-Racism Day #MarchAgainstRacism #AllRefugeesWelcome #WorldAgainstRacism Anti-racists will gather in London and Glasgow tomorrow, and in Cardiff on Sunday, to voice opposition to racism and say all refugees must be welcomed here. Thousands are expected to join the March Against Racism in London organised by Stand up to Racism (SUTR) supported by the TUC, its affiliated trade unions, MPs, a range of refugee charities, community, faith organisations, movements, DJs and artists including Jermain Jackman 2014 winner of BBC series “The Voice,” members of Roll Deep and Cristaleyy. Refugee Council Chief Executive Enver Soloman, Author, poet and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, Diane Abbott MP, Care for Calais’s Clare Moseley, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Richard Burgon MP, National Education Union General Secretary Kevin Courtney and Roz Foyer Scottish TUC General Secretary and Shavanah Taj Wales TUC General Secretary will be amongst the speakers at the events. Campaigners say the events are timely given the outrage and anger at the strip-searching of Child Q, ongoing racism in policing, and no action on eradicating institutional racism and 3.2 million people fleeing Ukraine. The London demonstration will be gathering at 12pm at BBC Broadcasting House, Portland Place and will be marching to Parliament Square. Full details of all three demonstrations can be found here: https://standuptoracism.org.uk/march-against-racism-for-un-anti-racism-day-saturday-19-march-2022/ The Glasgow demonstration will be gathering at 11am at Kelvingrove park and will be marching to Georges Square. The Cardiff demonstration takes place the following day, Sunday 20 March, and assembles 12 noon at Cardiff City Hall. The event is part of a “World Against Racism” day of action ahead of the UN Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Demonstrations will be taking place across the globe this weekend. You can see the interactive map of the actions taking place across 60 cities and in 20 countries at: www.worldagainstracism.org Labour MP Diane Abbott and President of Stand up to Racism said: “Child Q is a shocking case. It shows the longstanding problems with racism and misogyny in the Metropolitan Police force. We must keep fighting racism and sexism in the Met.” Abbott added that: “All forms of racism and xenophobia are one the rise. The government is once more increasing division to distract from the effects of its own failed policies. Ordinary people are facing a cost of living crisis, there is war on the edges of Europe and we all face the existential threat of the climate crisis. The government’s answer is no action against police strip-search & more stop and search and a refusal to treat all refugees humanely. It is time to increase our voices against all this, and a huge turnout on Anti-Racism Day will be our chance to do that.” Senior trade unionist Gloria Mills National Secretary Equalities, UNISON said: “The Stand up to Racism March and Rally is an important reminder of why we need this permanent presence in the UK to challenge racism on all fronts. Black and migrant workers fight racism daily to protect their basic and fundamental human rights but we also have to fight those who abuse their positions of power and the institutions that protect them. The strip searching of the Black school child Q was abhorrent and unacceptable. It was a breach of her human rights and dignity. This is what we live – everyday racism. This culture has to change and those who abuse their positions must be held to account.” Europe is experiencing the worst refugee crisis since WW2 with over 3.2 million people fleeing Ukraine in just three weeks. Campaigners will argue that more must be done to help Ukrainian refugees and visas must be waived. They will also argue that the same compassionate response to Ukrainian refugees must be offered to African and Middle Eastern refugees, who continue to drown in seas because unlike Ukrainian refugees, there are no safe routes to Britain. Author, poet and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen said: “Some of my family came from Ukraine and very few of them survived the Holocaust.The British media – news, discussion programmes, editorials, interviewers, anchor personnel etc have all set the bar very high on sympathy for Ukraine refugees. Great. We now have a high tide mark by which to measure all future conflicts and the refugees produced by such wars. We should welcome all refugees.” Others will draw attention to the need for a better global response to the Covid19 pandemic and urge the government to waive vaccine patents. Kevin Courtney National Education Union General Secretary said: “At this time more then ever it is vital to celebrate anti racism – and to stand up for justice. Our Government must show generosity to refugees from wars from Ukraine to Yemen and beyond. Nor must we forget the Covid pandemic – the Government must agree to waive vaccine patents so that vaccination can help millions in the Global South currently without protection.” A range of campaigners will argue that the British government is implementing controversial and even racist policies to distract from its cost of living and covid public health crises and it needs to be doing the opposite in light of the horrific Child Q case, ongoing racism in policing and the disproportionate impact of Covid19 on black communities, as highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement and point to the problems of the Nationality and Borders Bill which is due to return to the House of Commons next week. Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP said: “With the Government ramping up anti-migrant policies to try and deflect attention away from its endemic corruption and an appalling response to the financial struggles of all but the very richest in our country, this year’s march has renewed urgency. It’s so important for us to come together to show our unity against fascism and racism in all their different forms and keep up the call for a society where the colour of your skin has no bearing on your life outcomes and opportunities. If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” Jeremy Corbyn MP said: “Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has driven vast numbers from their homes. The incredible response of the British people in opening their hearts and homes to Ukrainian victims of war puts the government to shame.“While countries in the EU do what they can to help Ukrainian victims of war, refugees from Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya and other countries face Fortress Europe.“On Saturday, we will come together to show our fierce opposition to this racism and our support for all refugees. We will raise our collective voice and demand the government scraps its Nationality and Borders Bill that would criminalise refugees and those who show the humanity to help them.” Other trade union, faith and community leaders added their support for the event. Roz Foyer Scottish TUC General Secretary said: “The STUC is proud join with both community activists and trade unionists from across Scotland to support Stand up to Racism’s action in Glasgow as part of the UN’s International Anti Racism day, because we know the anti-racist fight back, needs to happen, both in our workplaces, and in our communities.” Jennifer Moses NASUWT National Official said: “The NASUWT Teachers’ Union has a long and proud history in tackling all forms of racism, prejudice and hatred – in the education system, workplaces and in our communities. Teachers and Education play a key role in standing up to all forms of racism and prejudices. It is unacceptable that racial injustices continue to devastate the everyday lives of many Black workers. Only together through the national and global trade union/anti-racist movement, will we defeat the scourge of racism and lead the fight for racial justice”. Maz Saleem daughter of Mohammed Saleem who was murdered by Ukrainian Tipton bomber Pavlo Lapshyn, said: “Muslim refugees should be welcomed just as Ukranian refugees. Islamophobia is at the heart of European policies for discrimination at home and abroad. Sadly, my family have had to endure violent Neo-Nazi Islamophobia, terrorism and murder. My very own father was murdered by Ukranian Mosque bomber Pavlo Lapshyn here on British soil. Please join me on the ‘I am Mohammed Saleem’, anti Islamophobia section of the march.” David Rosenberg Jewish Socialists’ Group said: “As a grandchild of a Ukranian Jewish migrant/refugee facing Britain’s earliest Hostile Environment, I have total solidarity and empathy with all Ukrainian refugees today – of all ethnicities – seeking sanctuary in other countries. The mistreatment of black and brown Ukrainian students at the Polish border, and of Ukrainian Roma refugees at the borders of Romania, Slovakia and Hungary must stop now!” Stop Asian Hate UK’s Aidan added: “Over the past two years there has been an distressing increase of anti-East & South East Asian (ESEA) and anti-Chinese racist rhetoric, perpetuated not only by “the usual suspects” of racism but also by the media. This has led to a sharp rise in racial violence suffered by a community which has largely felt voiceless, sidelined and isolated in its struggles. Therefore it’s imperative that we as a society consistently stand up and object loud and clear to all sorts of racial discrimination, as no one should ever feel any less as a human because of how they look, the language they speak, or where they or their family may come from.” Rahela Cirpaci, Romano Lav said: “As a Roma woman I am speaking on behalf of my Roma community and we say Refugees Are Welcome Here! This is the time to unite and stand together more than ever! We stand together with Ukraine and refugees from all over the world.” Lena Wånggren UCU Scotland president: “‘There is no place for racism in Scotland. We who believe in social justice are many many more than those who scapegoat immigrants, refugees, and people of colour. We stand together, proudly, in the trade union movement and beyond, to fight racism and to build an inclusive and welcoming society. We’ll say it again: Black Lives Matter.” Mohammad Asif, Afghan Human Rights Foundation director: “Let’s unite against all forms of racism and together we reject the policies of hate and the climate of fear created by the Tories and Priti Patel. We strongly reject the selective policies of the West when choosing refugees on the basis of their skin and the colour of their eyes. All refugees must be welcomed regardless of origin.” Fayrouz Kraish, Unite Scotland: “‘By tackling racism and anti-immigration policies, we make a fairer society for people of all backgrounds to thrive. We must fight for the NHS to provide an inclusive service which treats all staff and service users with respect, dignity and compassion.’” Linsay Taylor Scotland Regional Manager MEND: “Islamophobia is a form of racism, targeted at Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim. Mend work alongside key community members from educational practitioners, politicians to Polices forces, in aim to provide safe, informative discussions to overcome discrimination. As a grass roots organisation, we encourage better representation of minorities in all areas of decision-making and support the need for policies that prevent racism in our every aspect of our society.” Organiser of the demonstration Sabby Dhalu Co-Convenor of Stand up to Racism added: “At a time of Europe’s worst refugee crisis since WW2 and rising electoral support for Donald Trump, far right and fascist organisations in Europe, the World Against Racism demonstrations could not be more timely. We say loudly and clearly that all refugees – from Ukraine, Afghanistan to Eritrea – are welcome here. We must stand up to the horrific racism that prevented African and Asian people fleeing Ukraine. We say no to Fortress Europe and no to racism.“We send solidarity to Child Q and all those who have suffered at the hands of police institutional racism. This government stands in the tradition of ‘Rivers of Blood’ Tory Enoch Powell and is failing black, Asian and minority ethnic communities (BAME). We need a public inquiry into the disproportionate impact of Covid19 on BAME communities and call on this govt to scrap the Nationality and Borders Bill.” Organiser of the demonstration, Weyman Bennett and Co-Convenor of Stand up to Racism said: “Racism is endemic in British society. Ukrainian refugees are welcomed while African and Muslim refugees escaping wars continue to drown. Progress on eradicating racism is being thwarted by Johnson’s weaponising of racism to win votes and divide & rule which is evidenced by the lack of action on the police strip-searching of Child Q and commentators talk of civilised countries with ‘people like us.’ Tomorrow we march together in unity to say we reject this racism.” For interviews and more information please contact: info@standuptoracism.org.uk Our mailing address is: Stand Up To RacismPO Box 72710London, Greater London SW19 9GXUnited Kingdom Add us to your address book |