Sheffield Trade Union Council strongly supports the excellent work of Sheffield Stand up to Racism and encourages trade union and labour party branches to affiliate and support their work.
Racism and fascism is alive and well in the UK and even more so in Europe as right wing politicians and the media increasingly blame immigrants for all our problems. We know better of course. Real wages are falling and the gap between rich and poor is widening at an alarming rate. Divisive neo-liberal policies of austerity have put massive strains on housing, the NHS and other public services. It’s in their interests to encourage working class people to see migrants and refugees as the cause. Sheffield Stand Up to Racism has been active in giving solidarity to our migrant communities and especially reaching out to Muslim young women who have often born the brunt of racist insults in the street. The Trade Union Movement is very clear – no discrimination or racism of any kind – united we stand divided we fall!
Sheffield TUC delegates hold SUtR placards at the 161st AGM on Tuesday
Please note in particular two forthcoming events:
Sheffield Public Meeting Wednesday 7th March 7pm United Reform Chapel, Norfolk Street (opposite Crucible theatre). Speakers include Ian Hodson (President BFAWU); Janet Alder (Justice for Christopher Alder campaign); Magid Magid (Green Party Cllr and deputy Lord Mayor Sheffield); and Nadia Jama (BAME officer Sheffield Central CLP)
National “March Against Racism” demonstration, London Saturday 17th March – marking UN Anti-Racism Day. Transport available from Sheffield & Rotherham book tickets here http://bit.ly/2F333EV Please share thank you. Coach departs 7.30am – The Hubs, Sheffield Hallam University Students’ Union, Paternoster Row, Sheffield
#MarchAgainstRacism
What is UN Anti-Racism Day?
The UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was inaugurated in 1966 to commemorate the 1960 Sharpeville massacre which saw 69 anti-apartheid protestors killed and 178 wounded for taking to the streets against the regime’s racist pass laws.
In commemorating the massacre, the UN General Assembly called on all world states and organizations to participate in a program of action to combat racism and racial discrimination.
Why demonstrate?
We are facing a massive rise in racism in Britain and across the globe.
Migrants and refugees are being scapegoated for the effects of austerity, while EU nationals are used as bargaining chips in Brexit negotiations.
The whipping up of anti-Muslim hysteria in the press has led to a dramatic rise in Islamophobic attacks in the wake of terror attacks in London and Manchester, with visible Muslim women the primary target.
Rampant institutional racism is being felt through a spate of deaths in police custody, the tragedy at Grenfell and systematic discrimination in employment and Hosuing.
Trump’s Muslim ban, his racist ‘wall’ project and equivocation over white supremacist and fascist marches have led to a climate of racism and fear across the US.
Meanwhile In Europe, the rise of the Freedom Party in Austria, Front National in France and AfD in Germany are signs of a resurgence of the far right which requires a serious and coordinated effort to turn back.
If we are to defeat the rise of racism, we need a united movement of everyone who opposes it. The #MarchAgainstRacism is a chance to bring that movement together and show that we will not be silent. In the face of this historic challenge we need to make 2018’s march the biggest yet.