This Saturday 24 November 2018, Thompsons Solicitors will stand shoulder to shoulder with our STUC colleagues, members of religious groups, trade unionists, and anti-racist activists at the STUC St Andrews Day Anti-Racism March and Rally.
This year’s STUC St Andrews Day Anti-Racism March and Rally, champions the words of Maya Angelou, in its theme “Still We Rise: Internationalism, Freedom, Justice”.
In 2018, now more than ever, society needs to come together in standing against racism of all forms. Bolsonaro in power in Brazil and Trump is in the White House. Closer to home Brexit has whipped up an anti-immigrant sentiment, Theresa May’s “hostile environment” is still felt by migrants and Boris Johnson seems to have faced no repercussions for his racist slurs in the Daily Telegraph. The Sikh community in Edinburgh faced a horrific attack on the Gurdwara this summer and last year the police recorded 3,349 racial offences in Scotland alone. As neo liberalism exposes deeper inequality in society, more explicit racism is a consequence, both at a structural and an individual level. Although this is deeply concerning, racism will be defeated by calling individuals who express such views to account, by holding a principled anti-racist response to racist government policy such as the appalling treatment of the Windrush Generation, and by workers from across the world coming together in solidarity through internationalism from below.
As the STUC have said in their comment about the purpose of the demonstration:
“Economic hardship continues to be blamed on migration. Hate crime has risen across the UK. We see atrocities committed in the name of governments across the world. And the UK government should hang its head in shame for its treatment of the Windrush generation and the residents of the Grenfell Tower in London.”
We look forward to seeing all of you there on Saturday. If you want to discuss any discrimination issues you may have please do not hesitate to speak to Thompsons Solicitors at the demonstration or at the event at Adelaide’s afterwards.
Blog by Alice Bowman, Employment Team
