Challenging Racism in 2020

Today (Thursday) at 5pm UNISON Northern and Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC) will be hosting a special live FaceBook event, on Challenging Racism in 2020

UNISON Northern has a proud history of working with SRtRC over a number of years and Clare Williams, regional secretary will be taking part along with Nicky Ramanandi UNISON regional convenor.  The event will also be joined by ex-professional footballers Shaka Heslop, Curtis Fleming, Gary Bennet, John Beresford and Steve Howey as well as SRtRC chief executive Ged Grebby.

Speaking prior to the event UNISON regional secretary Clare Williams said “our work with Show Racism the Red Card is extremely important to UNISON in the region.  We know that since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic there has been a significant rise in racism across the country and in our own region that is why it is crucial we continue to fight racism in all its forms. Recently we have seen the Black Lives Matter movement highlight the need to stand up for equality for all and shows how imperative it is to support organisations like Show Racism the Red Card who work tirelessly to combat racism through education.”

UNISON regional convenor, Nicky Ramanandi said “I am really proud of the support UNISON Northern continues to give to SRtRC we have unfortunately seen a rise in racists incidents in our region, we know these actions are the carried out by the few rather than the majority and that actually the people of the north east have for many years  embraced people of all different ethnicities and that our communities are welcoming and open.  However, events like this are crucial to highlight that racism still exists and that we all have a duty in trying to combat it”

Show Racism the Red Card chief executive, Ged Grebby said: “This meeting brings together the original founders for Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC):  players from Newcastle United, Sunderland AFC and Middlesbrough FC and UNISON Northern Region.   Back in January 1996 Shaka Hislop, Curtis Fleming, John Beresford, Gary Bennett and Steve Howey all helped us establish SRtRC.   UNISON Northern Region were part of our first ever Management Committee and a key sponsor from day one.

Almost 25 years later the need for SRtRC’s work is as great as ever and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement is bringing new anti-racist activists to the fore.   This meeting will hear from Shaka Hislop who is based in Boston USA and has been on the BLM demonstrations there.   We are encouraging people to join the meeting via FaceBook and send their questions in via email to UNISON.

This is a key moment for anti-racism activists and SRtRC and UNISON will be working to make sure the BLM movement leads to racial equality and real change.”