BARAC UK PRESS RELEASE
18th of July
2014: IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In response
to growing concerns about racism in the UK, a group of organisations and
individuals, which includes, Co-Chair of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC)
UK, Zita Holbourne, today wrote to the Conservative, Liberal
Democrat and Labour party leaders about the
state of race equality and the impact on Black and Migrant communities.
Institutional
racism is deepening in the UK, austerity is amplifying racism, impacting
disproportionately on black, minority ethnic, migrant and deprived communities
whilst the main political parties disregard our voices and concerns, scapegoating
our communities and demonstrating that they do not see race equality as a
priority.
Lee Jasper, Co-Chair of BARAC UK
said:
"Institutional racism results in
the wholesale denial of rights to millions of black and ethnic minority
peoples, right across this country.
Austerity economics amplifies structural racism and outright
discrimination.
Race has fallen off the British
agenda and has become the policy pariah of a Government whose ideology renders
them blind to racism. It’s our job to open their eyes"
Zita Holbourne, Co-Chair of BARAC UK
said:
“Today is the United Nations Nelson
Mandela International Day. Nelson Mandela
stood throughout his life for racial equality and justice. He stood against
racism not just in South Africa but globally including here in the UK. Instead of seeing progress we are seeing
devastating attacks on Black workers, service users and communities leading to a
daily deepening of race discrimination and disadvantage. Our voices must be
heard and politicians and government have a responsibility and duty to act on
our concerns and to create a society that is safe, fair and equal for all.”
ENDS
Contact:
Email
barac.info@gmail.com
Tel: 07711 861660 or 07984181797
Twitter: @baracuk
Letters to Messrs Cameron, Clegg and Miliband follow
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rt Hon David Cameron MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA
18 July 2014
Dear Mr.
Cameron,
We are proud
to live in a diverse Britain. Our society is more vibrant, dynamic and
creative: our lives and values are richer for it. It is the reason behind London’s commercial
success and why we secured the 2012 Olympics.
How quickly
pride turns to shame.
We are now deeply worried about race
relations, the rising tide of
Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment, which are fuelled by the open
disdain shown by many politicians for policies which promote a more equal and
inclusive society. We are ashamed of:-
• ‘Go home’ immigration vans
• the vilification of migrant workers
• the persistent linking of Muslim
communities with violent extremism
• the ‘British’ values agenda
• institutional tolerance of celebrity racism
• the refusal of political leaders to
challenge hostile attitudes to particular sections of the black and other
minority ethnic communities.
The reins on
racist behaviour have been loosened: anti-immigrant and Islamophobic fervour,
propagated by certain sections of the media and some politicians are in danger
of unwittingly – and at times wittingly - inciting racial hatred. It is now
open season for racists.
There is an
Equality and Human Rights Commission, but it is silent, weak, aloof and
ineffective. There is a Government Equalities Office but it has no vision for
an inclusive society beyond women on boards. There are political leaders but no
leadership.
This toxic
environment is damaging British society and, potentially, its international
reputation. We urge you to take immediate action to avoid serious harm to
community relations by:
• a commitment not to use the politics
of ‘difference’ to marginalise communities
• the release of the GEO Programme Fund
to projects which promote good relations
• a manifesto commitment to implementing
a race and good relations strategy
• restoring the power to promote good
relations to the Equality and Human Rights Commission and ensuring that the
EHRC uses its powers effectively.
Above all,
we ask you not to choke the voice of reason and tolerance.
And, in case
you think we do not matter, remember that the ethnic minority vote matters in
key marginal constituencies.
Yours
sincerely,
Organisations
Zita
Holbourne Co-Founder, BARAC
Belfast
Migrant Centre
Joy
Warmington, CEO, Birmingham Race Action Partnership
Sado Jirde,
Director, Black South West Network
Tony Lindsay
Project Manager, CHESS
Serah
Kimuyu, Advice and Support Officer, Central Scotland Regional Equality Council
(CSREC)
Professor
Nira Yuval Davis, Director, The Centre for Research on Migration Refugees and
Belonging, University of East London
Sarah Soyei,
Head of Partnerships, EqualiTeach
Karen
Chouhan Founder and Director Equanomics UK
Sameena
Choudry Founder, Equitable Education
Chris
Whitwell Director, Friends, Families and Travellers
Kamaljeet
Jandu, National Officer, GMB
Robin
Richardson Director, Insted Consultancy
Liz Fekete
Executive Director, Institute of Race Relations
Ratna
Lachman Director JUST West Yorkshire
Peter
Williams, Chair, Kingsgate Community Centre
Don Flynn,
Director, Migrant Rights Network
Suresh
Grover Founder and Director,The Monitoring Group
Patrick Yu,
Director, Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities,
Paul Crofts,
Vice Chair, Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council
Janie Codona
MBE One Voice 4 Travellers Ltd
Simon
Woolley, Director, Operation Black Vote
Andy Gregg,
Chief Executive, Race On The Agenda
Omar Khan,
Director, The Runnymede Trust
Peter
Herbert, Chair, The Society of Black Lawyers
Individuals
Olu Alake
Mohammed
Aziz
Maud Blair
Ralph
Braunholtz
Liz Brooker
Barbara
Cohen
Dr. Tony
Cotton
Dr. Jacqui
Cousins
Lindsay
Edkins
Angela Crum
Ewing
Alison
Graham
John Haywood
Ibrahim
Hashi Jama
Makbool
Javaid
Saleema
Karim
Jane Lane
Harmesh
Lakhanpaul OBE
Esther
Maynard,
Mahalia
France Mir
Rehana
Minhas
Sarah
McMurchie
Leander
Neckles
Graham
O’Neill
Brenda
Parkes
Phil Pavey
Constantia
Pennie
Professor
Andy Pilkington
Anthony
Robinson
Pamela
Strangman
Professor
Sally Tomlinson
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rt. Hon.
Nick Clegg MP
House of
Commons
London SW1A
0AA
18 July 2014
Dear Mr
Clegg,
We are proud
to live in a diverse Britain. Our society is more vibrant, dynamic and creative:
our lives and values are richer for it.
It is the reason behind London’s commercial success and why we secured
the 2012 Olympics.
How quickly
pride turns to shame.
We are now
deeply worried about race relations, the
rising tide of Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment, which are fuelled by
the open disdain shown by many politicians for policies which promote a more
equal and inclusive society. We are ashamed of:-
• ‘Go home’ immigration vans
• the vilification of migrant workers
• the persistent linking of Muslim
communities with violent extremism
• the ‘British’ values agenda
• institutional tolerance of celebrity
racism
• the refusal of political leaders to
challenge hostile attitudes to particular sections of the black and other minority
ethnic communities.
The reins on
racist behaviour have been loosened: anti-immigrant and Islamophobic fervour,
propagated by certain sections of the media and some politicians are in danger
of unwittingly – and at times wittingly - inciting racial hatred. It is now
open season for racists.
There is an
Equality and Human Rights Commission, but it is silent, weak, aloof and
ineffective. There is a Government Equalities Office but it has no vision for
an inclusive society beyond women on boards. There are political leaders but no
leadership.
This toxic
environment is damaging British society and, potentially, its international
reputation. We urge you to take immediate action to avoid serious harm to
community relations by:
• a commitment not to use the politics
of ‘difference’ to marginalise communities
• the release of the GEO Programme Fund
to projects which promote good relations
• a manifesto commitment to implementing
a race and good relations strategy
• restoring the power to promote good
relations to the Equality and Human Rights Commission and ensuring that the
EHRC uses its powers effectively.
Above all,
we ask you not to choke the voice of reason and tolerance.
And, in case
you think we do not matter, remember that the ethnic minority vote matters in
key marginal constituencies.
Yours
sincerely,
Organisations
Zita
Holbourne, Co-Founder, BARAC (Black Activists Rising Against Cuts)
Belfast
Migrant Centre
Joy
Warmington, CEO, Birmingham Race Action Partnership
Sado Jirde,
Director, Black South West Network
Tony
Lindsay, Project Manager, CHESS (Cambridgeshire Human Rights and Equality
Support Service)
Serah
Kimuyu, Advice and Support Officer, CSREC (Central Scotland Regional Equality
Council)
Professor
Nira Yuval Davis, Director, The Centre for Research on Migration Refugees and
Belonging, University of East London
Sarah Soyei,
Head of Partnerships, EqualiTeach
Karen
Chouhan, Founder and Director, Equanomics UK
Sameena
Choudry,Founder, Equitable Education
Chris
Whitwell, Director, Friends, Families and Travellers
Kamaljeet
Jandu, National Officer, GMB
Robin
Richardson, Director, Insted Consultancy
Liz Fekete,
Executive Director, Institute of Race Relations
Ratna
Lachman, Director, JUST West Yorkshire
Peter
Williams, Chair, Kingsgate Community Centre
Don Flynn,
Director, Migrant Rights Network
Suresh
Grover, Founder and Director, The Monitoring Group
Paul Crofts,
Vice Chair, Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council
Patrick Yu,
Director, Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities,
Janie Codona
MBE, One Voice 4 Travellers Ltd
Simon
Woolley, Director, Operation Black Vote
Andy Gregg,
Chief Executive, Race On The Agenda
Omar Khan,
Director, The Runnymede Trust
Peter Herbert,
Chair, The Society of Black Lawyers
Individuals
Olu Alake
Mohammed
Aziz
Maud Blair
Ralph
Braunholtz
Liz Brooker
Barbara
Cohen
Dr. Tony
Cotton
Dr. Jacqui
Cousins
Lindsay
Edkins
Angela Crum
Ewing
Alison
Graham
John Haywood
Ibrahim
Hashi Jama
Makbool
Javaid
Saleema
Karim
Jane Lane
Harmesh
Lakhanpaul OBE
Esther
Maynard,
Mahalia
France Mir
Rehana
Minhas
Sarah
McMurchie
Leander
Neckles
Graham
O’Neill
Brenda
Parkes
Phil Pavey
Constantia
Pennie
Professor
Andy Pilkington
Anthony
Robinson
Pamela Strangman
Professor
Sally Tomlinson
The Rt. Hon.
Edward Miliband MP
House of
Commons
London SW1A
0AA
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 July 2014
Dear Mr
Miliband,
We are proud
to live in a diverse Britain. Our society is more vibrant, dynamic and
creative: our lives and values are richer for it. It is the reason behind London’s commercial
success and why we secured the 2012 Olympics.
How quickly
pride turns to shame.
We are now deeply worried about race
relations, the rising tide of
Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment, which are fuelled by the open
disdain shown by many politicians for policies which promote a more equal and
inclusive society. We are ashamed of:-
• ‘Go home’ immigration vans
• the vilification of migrant workers
• the persistent linking of Muslim
communities with violent extremism
• the ‘British’ values agenda
• institutional tolerance of celebrity
racism
• the refusal of political leaders to
challenge hostile attitudes to particular sections of the black and other
minority ethnic communities.
The reins on
racist behaviour have been loosened: anti-immigrant and Islamophobic fervour,
propagated by certain sections of the media and some politicians are in danger
of unwittingly – and at times wittingly - inciting racial hatred. It is now
open season for racists.
There is an
Equality and Human Rights Commission, but it is silent, weak, aloof and
ineffective. There is a Government Equalities Office but it has no vision for
an inclusive society beyond women on boards. There are political leaders but no
leadership.
This toxic
environment is damaging British society and, potentially, its international
reputation. We urge you to take immediate action to avoid serious harm to
community relations by:
• a commitment not to use the politics
of ‘difference’ to marginalise communities
• the release of the GEO Programme Fund
to projects which promote good relations
• a manifesto commitment to implementing
a race and good relations strategy
• restoring the power to promote good
relations to the Equality and Human Rights Commission and ensuring that the
EHRC uses its powers effectively.
Above all,
we ask you not to choke the voice of reason and tolerance.
And, in case
you think we do not matter, remember that the ethnic minority vote matters in
key marginal constituencies.
Yours
sincerely,
Organisations
Zita
Holbourne, Co-Founder, BARAC (Black Activists Rising Against Cuts)
Belfast
Migrant Centre
Joy
Warmington, CEO, Birmingham Race Action Partnership
Sado Jirde,
Director, Black South West Network
Tony
Lindsay, Project Manager, CHESS (Cambridgeshire Human Rights and Equality
Support Service)
Serah
Kimuyu, Advice and Support Officer, CSREC (Central Scotland Regional Equality
Council)
Professor
Nira Yuval Davis, Director, The Centre for Research on Migration Refugees and
Belonging, University of East London
Sarah Soyei,
Head of Partnerships, EqualiTeach
Karen
Chouhan, Founder and Director, Equanomics UK
Sameena
Choudry,Founder, Equitable Education
Chris
Whitwell, Director, Friends, Families and Travellers
Kamaljeet
Jandu, National Officer, GMB
Robin
Richardson, Director, Insted Consultancy
Liz Fekete,
Executive Director, Institute of Race Relations
Ratna
Lachman, Director, JUST West Yorkshire
Peter
Williams, Chair, Kingsgate Community Centre
Don Flynn,
Director, Migrant Rights Network
Suresh
Grover, Founder and Director, The Monitoring Group
Paul Crofts,
Vice Chair, Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council
Patrick Yu,
Director, Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities,
Janie Codona
MBE, One Voice 4 Travellers Ltd
Simon
Woolley, Director, Operation Black Vote
Andy Gregg,
Chief Executive, Race On The Agenda
Omar Khan,
Director, The Runnymede Trust
Peter
Herbert, Chair, The Society of Black Lawyers
Individuals
Olu Alake
Mohammed
Aziz
Maud Blair
Ralph
Braunholtz
Liz Brooker
Barbara
Cohen
Dr. Tony
Cotton
Dr. Jacqui
Cousins
Lindsay
Edkins
Angela Crum
Ewing
Alison
Graham
John Haywood
Ibrahim
Hashi Jama
Makbool
Javaid
Saleema
Karim
Jane Lane
Harmesh
Lakhanpaul OBE
Esther
Maynard,
Mahalia
France Mir
Rehana
Minhas
Sarah
McMurchie
Leander
Neckles
Graham
O’Neill
Brenda
Parkes
Phil Pavey
Constantia
Pennie
Professor
Andy Pilkington
Anthony
Robinson
Pamela
Strangman
Professor
Sally Tomlinson
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.