Scotland unites against racism

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

Scotland unites against racism

(Friday 28 November 2008)

by PAUL HASTE





UNITED: Last year's march attracted more than a thousand demonstrators in Glasgow.



THOUSANDS of Scottish trade unionists will throng Glasgow's streets for St Andrew's Day on Saturday in a display of community resistance to racism.

Representatives of Glasgow's diverse immigrant communities will join union and political activists from across Scotland's political scene to celebrate the country's national day with a march from St Andrews-in-the-Square to a rally at the city's Film Theatre in Rose Street.


March organiser and Scottish TUC general secretary Grahame Smith declared that he was "delighted" to receive a message of support from Prime Minister Gordon Brown, recognising "the labour movement's role in the fight against fascism."


First Minister Alex Salmond added that the STUC march "has become a proud annual example of Scotland at its best - uniting ordinary people to demonstrate their repugnance at this despicable form of prejudice."


The St Andrew's Day march was first organised 20 years ago after fascist parties tried to hijack Scotland's patron saint for themselves but, Mr Smith explained, workers "reflecting the different communities in the Glasgow came together to take it back.


"Tackling inequality, racism and fascism head on is even more important today," he stressed. "In these challenging economic times, we have to guard against prejudice or marginalisation and any suggestion that we should ignore equality issues."


STUC assistant secretary Mary Senior said that members of Glasgow's Afro-Caribbean and Muslim communities were expected at the rally, along with representatives from refugee and migrant workers' support groups.
Scottish Council of Jewish Communities director Ephraim Borowski has sent a message of solidarity, as has Scottish-Islamic Foundation chief executive Osama Saeed.


STUC black workers' committee rep and rally chairman Nazerin Wardrop welcomed the messages of support and insisted that "it is absolutely vital that we use the day that celebrates Scotland's patron to show a vibrant and diverse Scotland united against racism and fascism."


Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance activist Zakia Yousaf declared: "Everyone deserves an equal chance to live free from fear of discrimination, prejudice and racism. This day is about showing how united we are," she said.


In Aberdeen, union activists will gather at the city's political heart in Castlegate on Saturday despite a police ban on their march. Unite union organiser Tommy Campbell defiantly stated that St Andrew's Day is "our day."


He vowed that a rally organised by Aberdeen TUC would go ahead "in the square where unemployed workers and trade unionists fought the fascist blackshirts in the 1930s."


The STUC march in Glasgow assembles at St Andrews-in-the-Square off Saltmarket at 10.30am, followed by the rally at Glasgow Film Theatre in Rose Street at noon.

See also:
Features: Nazerin Wardrop explains how the STUC is working to fight racism.

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[Thinking Man's Idiot]

Scots stand as one


British report: NAZERIN WARDROP explains how the STUC is working to fight racism.



A BLACK person will soon become the most powerful man in the world. Barack Obama's victory this month was momentous and inspirational. It posed questions too.

Might we now see a black prime minister or a black first minister? Has Martin Luther King's dream that we will be judged by character not colour at last become reality?


It is of great concern that, despite contributions from generations of black and minority ethnic Scots, civic, political and public life in Scotland still does not reflect our society's diversity.


Black, Asian and minority ethnic people make up about 10 per cent of the UK population, but only 3 per cent of the Commons. Only 15 out of 646 MPs are black or Asian.


"The missing faces on the green benches are the missing voices in this chamber," Commons leader and Women and Equalities Minister Harriet Harman has warned.


In September, the Equality and Human Rights Commission's annual state of the nation survey on identity and power in Scotland underlined that, despite minor changes, power remains with middle-aged white men.


Black workers still face an ethnic penalty at work too. Last year's Equal Opportunities Commission report on black and minority ethnic women in the workplace concluded that they face barriers, discrimination, stereotyping and assumptions about their abilities and ambitions.


Discrimination, outdated perceptions and lack of support mean that their potential is being overlooked.


Last year's Scottish Social Attitudes Survey revealed continuing prejudice against Muslims, Gypsies, travellers, asylum-seekers and migrant workers.


In these turbulent economic times, we cannot allow black and minority ethnic people to be further marginalised. Economic hardship may breed racism and prejudice. We must remain vigilant.


A joint communique on equalities was signed this month by the Scottish government and Scottish TUC.


It acknowledged that tackling inequality and promoting equality contribute to Scotland's economic well-being and noted the importance of good community relations amid harsh economic conditions. It also committed the Scottish government and STUC to target the underskilling of black people within wider work on skills and productivity.


The STUC black workers' committee aims to ensure that black workers' voices are articulated by increasing meaningful participation in political, economic and social life.


We challenge racism in workplaces, providing support to black workers across Scotland and tackling racism by promoting engagement between communities and dialogue with faith communities.


At our recent black workers' conference, representatives from belief and religious groups engaged in positive dialogue, helping trade unionists and belief groups to understand each other better.


The STUC is proud to be organising today's Scotland Against Racism event celebrating our common humanity. It makes a clear statement that we are stronger together and that Scotland stands as one against racism and fascism.


The Scottish Asian Action Committee, which initiated Scotland's first day of action against racism and fascism over 20 years ago, will share today's platform. The STUC is honoured to take forward its work.

Nazerin Wardrop is chairman of the STUC black workers' committee.
Saturday's Scotland Against Racism march and rally in Glasgow assembles at 10.30am at St Andrew's in the Square for an 11am march to Glasgow Film Theatre, Rose Street, and a rally at 12 noon.

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[Thinking Man's Idiot]

Anti-racist rallies mark St Andrew's Day

(Sunday 30 November 2008)

by PAUL HASTE



FIGHTING BACK: Trade union officials and politicians leading the Glasgow demonstration. pic: MALCOLM BURNS



SCOTTISH anti-racists took to the streets of Glasgow and Aberdeen on Saturday, uniting trade unionists and local communities in St Andrew's Day rallies against fascism.

Over 1,000 marchers representing Glasgow's Afro-Caribbean, Muslim and Asian communities were joined by trade unions and Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy for the annual rally organised by the Scottish Trades Union Congress.


Mr Murphy told the marchers that "racism, bigotry and fascism have no place in modern Scotland.


"We celebrate St Andrew's Day to say that Scotland is for all, regardless of culture or background, and to celebrate the great diversity that is Scotland today," he declared.


STUC black workers' committee rep Nazerin Wardrop said: "I think that fighting racism and fascism is an ongoing battle and we have got to fight in any way we possibly can.


"This is what we are showing - that we are united in fighting today," he stressed.


The march was supported by all Scotland's political parties.


Labour MSP for Glasgow Pauline McNeill was among the marchers, with Scottish National Party MSP Christina McKelvie and Solidarity co-convenor Tommy Sheridan.


Aberdeen trade unionists held their rally in defiance of a ban by Grampian Police, who had previously claimed that dealing with the Aberdeen-Motherwell football match and a political rally on the same day was too much for them.


Anti-racist activists brought together by Aberdeen TUC gathered at the city's Castlegate to mark the heroic fightback by unemployed workers and trade unionists against fascist blackshirts in the 1930s.


Representatives from local unions, the Scottish Socialist Party, Labour and the Communist Party were joined by pensioners and Aberdeen City Council workers, who are gearing up to fight more than 400 redundancies declared by the joint Lib-Dem SNP controlled council.


Dundee TUC secretary Mike Arnott told the rally that "the blackshirt thugs of the 1930s have resurfaced in the guise of the British National Party today."


He warned that "fascist activists" were trying to organise in Scottish communities and were trying to intimidate local socialists.


"But we will stand together and see off this threat from BNP thugs," he vowed.

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[Thinking Man's Idiot]

Climate march

ANOTHER week and another demo.


On Saturday, the Scottish Climate Change march in Glasgow will call for just solutions to climate change at Holyrood, Westminster and at the United Nations talks in Poznan, Poland.


The demo is supported by UNISON Scotland, Friends of the Earth and the World Development Movement among others. It starts at the Amphitheatre, Clyde Street, Glasgow at 12.30pm. Regular Star contributor Richard Leonard of GMB Scotland will be one of the speakers.

Visit to www.scottishclimatemarch.info and www.globalclimatecampaign.org for more info.



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