PRESS RELEASE: BARAC UK, Protest Against Global Racism and Injustice; I am Travyon Martin, endorsed by Public Enemy

BARAC UK HAVE CALLED THE FOLLOWING PROTEST, supported by:

Operation Black Vote, the National Black Students Campaign, Global Afrikan Congress, PCS, RMT Black Members, Counterfire, UAF, Love Music Hate Racism, Youth Against Racism, Europe, Lambeth TUC, Lambeth People's Assembly,  One Society Many Cultures,  Unite the Union, Defend the Right to Protest, NUT and other anti racist organisations 

BARAC UK, Protest Against Global Racism and Injustice; I am Travyon Martin, endorsed by Public Enemy

Press Release for immediate use.

Friday 26^th July

BARAC will be holding a march and rally against Global Racism and Injustice in solidarity with the families of Trayvon Martin Stephen Lawrence, Azelle Rodney, Jimmy Mubenga and many others to highlight the reality of racism and seeking justice, both here in the UK and the US.

Revolutionary rap act, Public Enemy, performing at the Koko Club in London’s Camden Town encouraged the audience to take part in the march and rally.

The demonstration will take place on Saturday 27 July  assembling 2pm at the USA Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London with speeches in support of Trayvon Martin, leaving at 3pm and marching to Downing Street where a final round of speeches will be given in support of the Lawrence call for a public inquiry into recent allegation that the Met Police sought to smear both family and friends and with the families of Azelle Rodney and Jimmy Mubenga and in response to allegations of police infiltration of anti-racist groups.

Zita Holbourne, Co-Chair BARAC UK said:

Injustice and racism are increasing every day - it’s an issue here in the UK and in the USA and elsewhere, this is why we need a global response. We are demanding a truly independent public inquiry into police spying on the Lawrence family and their supporters and the infiltration of anti-racist organisations and for the ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws to go. We support the call from USA activists for a complete Florida boycott until the laws are revoked and applaud artists such as Stevie Wonder for refusing to perform in Florida. It’s a disgrace that families who lose their loved ones through racism must then spend a life time pursuing justice. No justice, no peace!

Lee Jasper, Co-Chair of BARAC UK said:

We march today in solidarity with the family of Trayvon Martin and to highlight the reality of rising rates of racism in Britain. The US authorities should abolish the hated 'stand your ground' law in Florida that is a license to kill. We march to support the call from the Lawrence family for a full and independent judicial led public inquiry into the allegations that the Metropolitan Police sought to smear both the family and supporters through a covert police surveillance unit.

We march for Jimmy Mubenga, Mark Duggan, Kingsley Burrell, Smiley Culture and Azelle Rodney. We march for justice and equality in the 50th anniversary year of Dr Martin Luther King’s 1968 March on Washington. The truth is that his dream is a threadbare vision here in the UK where racism is on the rise amplified by austerity.

Speakers include:

MC for the day: Zita Holbourne, National Co-Chair of BARAC UK

Lee Jasper, National Co-Chair BARAC UK

Donna Guthrie, BARAC Black Women

Simon Woolley, Operation Black Vote

Adam Khalif, PCS National Executive

Joe Welsh, London and Eastern Regional Chair, Unite the Union

Aaron Kiely, NUS Black Students Officer

George Galloway MP

Sabby Dhalu, One Society Many Cultures

Weyman Bennett, UAF

David Nieta, Society of Black Lawyers

Alfie Meadows

Lyndsey German, Peoples Assembly

Lois Austin, Youth Against Racism, Europe

Paul Mackney, Greek solidarity Campaign

Plus local artists will be performing on the day.

Background:

The national anti-austerity, anti-racist campaigning organisation Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK, is co- chaired & was co-founded by Lee Jasper and Zita Holbourne National Executive member of the PCS Union. Established in July 1010 the movement seeks to campaign against the disproportionate impact of austerity on black communities, workers and service users and organise community action.

For more information:

Contact Lee Jasper 07984 181797.

              Zita Holbourne barac.info@gmail.com

Web: www.blackactivistsrisingagainstcuts.blogspot.com

Twitter: @baracuk

Facebook: Black Activists Rising Against Cuts

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