Blog Archive

Friday 18 July 2014

PRESS RELEASE: OPEN LETTER ABOUT RACISM TO POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS



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: 
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.