Standing up to racism

JVL Introduction

Last weekend’s Stand up to Racism demonstrations marking UN Anti Racism Day had a special urgency for a number of reasons.

The flood of refugees from war in Ukraine reminded us of the plight of migrants everywhere, routinely confronted with hostility and discrimination in countries where they seek refuge.

In the UK, a report published last week revealed horrific abuse of a young Black girl strip-searched by police at her school in the London Borough of Hackney.

At the same time, the government here is enacting a raft of repressive legislation aimed at weaving racism yet more tightly into the fabric of British society.

Read below the speech delivered by Jewish Voice for Labour’s Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi at the start of the London #MarchAgainstRacism on Saturday.

David Rosenberg of the Jewish Socialists’ Group also addressed the opening rally. His speech is available here.

A deliberately constructed hostile environment

120 and more years ago my grandparents fled anti-Jewish persecution in Eastern Europe.  My Mother’s mother came from Ukraine in 1903.

Now Ukrainians are fleeing Putin’s invasion. A tide of desperate humanity.

Humanity dictates they must be given refuge.

Across the globe 100s of thousands are on the move, displaced by war, poverty, environmental catastrophe, oppression and discrimination – people from Afghanistan, Palestine and all over the Middle East, from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Humanity dictates they must also be welcomed. Whatever their religion or the colour of their skin.

But what is the reality?

What is the welcome THIS country gives to people who are Black or Asian, or Muslim, or Gypsy, Roma or Traveller people?

All too often, it’s rejection, humiliation, discrimination, permanent insecurity, homelessness, destitution and deportation. Including for those who’ve lived here all their lives.  A deliberately constructed hostile environment. This is shameful and must stop!

But this government is determined to make it much, much worse.

A raft of authoritarian new laws are designed to weave racism even more tightly into the fabric of British society.

We are all threatened with the loss of liberties we’ve taken for granted for decades – not only the Borders Bill and the Police Bill, but also bills about the Human Rights Act, Judicial Review, Elections, higher education and more.

We must build the resistance together, regardless of faith, ethnicity or origin.

JVL’s slogan is – Always with the Oppressed, Never with the Oppressor.

SCRAP THE NATIONALITY AND BORDERS BILL

Let’s raise our voices and say – No Human is Illegal!