Community Unity this evening in Harrow join at 7pm North Harrow Business Centre

 

The Harrow community will come together tonight at 7pm outside the Business Centre in North Harrow, 429-433 Pinner Road, that also houses the community library.

This follows reports that far-right supporters have targeted an  immigration advice office at that address. The organisers want a show of strength to demonstrate to the far right that their racism and Islamophobia is not welcome in Harrow.

Even if the far right does not turn up the action the action will show the community solidarity with those most likely to be theatened by the far right.

Harrow Police issued the statement below yesterday:

 

 

Brent school in the spotlight over attitude to 'aggressive' Black hair styles

 The case of a Black child being told their hairstyle was unacceptable by a Brent secondary school was the focus of a talk by veteran Grenadian born education campaigner and academic Professor Gus John, at the 'Institutionalisation of Racism Weekend' at the ICA in London.

John  said was using the case to make the point, in his words, that 'Decolonising the institution is a prerequisite for decolonising the curriculum.'

The slides appear to refer to an old case LINK but clearly pertinent given the Black Lives Matter movement and more recent issues in schools.

Slides were shown with extracts from the school's position on corn rows at the time:

Since Michael Gove's education reforms no Brent secondary school is directly controlled by the local authority. There are stand alone academies, multi-academy trusts, academy chains, faith schools and a free school. 

However, Brent Council does have an overall responibility for the wellbeing and safeguarding of all children in the borough and in the light of Black Lives Matter has adopted a Black Community Action Plan. LINK

Of   relevance is a more  recent case won by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission reported here LINK:

Stopping a school from using a discriminatory hairstyle policy

Case name: Ruby Williams vs Urswick School

A pupil, Ruby, took her school to court after it enforced a uniform policy that banned Afro hair of excessive volume. When the school didn’t respond to the claim, the court issued a default judgment in her favour and the family reached a settlement. We funded the case through court and secured a legally binding agreement with the school to ensure it ended the discriminatory policy and considered factors such as race and religion when determining what a ‘reasonable’ hairstyle was. 

Legal issue

Is a school’s policy against pupils wearing ‘voluminous afro hairstyles’ discriminatory.

Background

Ruby Williams is mixed race and has naturally big, afro hair. She was repeatedly refused entry to Urswick School, or sent home, while in years 10 and 11 because the school had a policy which banned big afro hairstyles.

She was told to change her hairstyle to one consistent with the school’s uniform policy, which said that hair must be of ‘a reasonable size’.

Ruby tried numerous hairstyles to comply with the policy but many of these damaged her hair and were time-consuming and expensive.

Ruby developed signs of depression and felt anxious about going to school because of it all.

She worried she would be singled out by teachers in front of her classmates because of her appearance.

The school was sent letters from Ruby's GP and a clinical psychologist warning that she was suffering because of the policy.

Why we were involved

Race is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and afro hair is inherently linked to race.

We were concerned that the policy was indirectly discriminatory because it put Ruby and other mixed race pupils at a particular disadvantage compared to white pupils, and the school could not show it was appropriate or necessary.

What we did

As part of a Legal Support Project we ran in 2017-2018 to tackle discrimination in education, we funded a race discrimination claim against the school on Ruby's behalf.

We then followed up with the school by securing a legally binding agreement, which meant the school removed any reference to volume in its hair-style policy. It also drafted a ‘Policy Equality statement’ to accompany the hairstyle policy so that factors such as race and religion would be factored into determining what a ‘reasonable’ hairstyle was. 

What happened

The school failed to file a defence to the claim and the London County Court therefore issued a default judgment in Ruby’s favour.

After years of delays with her case, Ruby and her family decided to settle out of court.

We followed up with the school by securing a legally binding agreement, which meant the school developed a new hair-style policy which could take account of factors such as race when deciding if a hair-style was appropriate.

Who will benefit and how

Urswick School has nearly 900 pupils. By working with us to establish a non-discriminatory policy, the school has taken steps to protect other children from being treated in the way that Ruby was.

By supporting this case and bringing the issue to the fore through the press, parents and children will be more aware that Race is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and that any discriminatory treatment can and should be challenged.  We have also provided support to Urswick school develop a new hair-style policy.

Young people have set up a campaign to fight discrimination over hair styles called the Halo Collective LINK. They explain their mission:

We are the Black hair revolution

We are an alliance of organisations and individuals working to create a future without hair discrimination, founded by young Black organisers from The Advocacy Academy.

Race-based hair discrimination has been illegal in the UK since the the Equalities Act became law in 2010, and yet it still happens all the time.

For too long, Black people have been told that our hair textures and hairstyles are inappropriate, unattractive, and unprofessional. We’ve been suspended from school, held back in our careers, and made to feel inferior by racist policies and attitudes.

Together, we are fighting for the protection and celebration of Black hair and hairstyles.

 

Video: Black Lives/White Privilege - a community discussion in Brent

Marcia Rigg - campaigner, Dr Deryck Murray - Uni of West Indies, Prof Gary Younge - author, Antonia Charles - lawyer; Muhammed Butt - Leader of Brent Council

On 25 May 2020, in Minneapolis, USA, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed by a policeman suffocating him in plain sight. His death has led to worldwide demonstrations. But none of the great, painful and burning issues raised by Mr Floyd’s death are new.

 The statistics show that the black community in the UK faces similar prejudice, violence and barriers to natural justice. Any discussion of the problems of the black community must also address the issue of white privilege. Slavery and the empire all impact on attitudes, both black and white, in 2020. They are not a question of black history, but of the national story. 

This was a wide-ranging discussion about the history, the present and the future for the black community in the UK and how we all can unite in solidarity to bring about overdue radical social change. Discussion chaired by Tom London

Better Kensal and Kilburn 2020

UPDATED: School staff silent protest 'Our school is no place for hate' after vitriolic internet posting aimed at pupils

Staff outside Central Foundation Girls' School, Bow, London

The following was posted by Alex Kenny, a member of the NEU Executive, on Facebook today. It is a sad comment that such acts are occuring on our streets and aimed at children and young people. All the more reason for us all to be vigilant and act quickly against these acts. Congratulations to all the school staff involved.

On Friday, as about a thousand girls were leaving a local school, they were followed and filmed by someone who provided a vitriolic commentary full of racist, misogynist and Islamophobic comments - and then posted it on the internet.

Today staff at the school lined lined up along the road outside the school in a silent protest with a simple message “our schools are no place for hate” - a simple but very important show of unity and solidarity, all the more impressive for it being organised so quickly.

More actions are likely to follow to make sure racists such as this get the message that they are outnumbered and not welcome.

UPDATE: The Met Police have arrested a man in his 60s for questioning over this incident

Standing together against racism and Islamophobia in Dollis Hill

The T-shirt says: There are two types: they are either your brothers in faith or your equals in humanity

Standing together in solidarity

Local people, including members of North West London Stand Up To Racism, received a warm welcome tonight at the Al-Majlis and Al- Hussaini Centre in Dollis Hill when they visited to express support and solidarity after the previous night's attack. The Chair and Secretary of Brent Trades Council were amongst the visitors.

The group were invited in to share in the celebrations and the atmosphere was positive with clear determination that such episodes would not be allowed to divide the community.

I was struck particularly by a very articulate lower secondary boy who was keen to explain his faith and at the same time emphasise his respect for all religions by explaining the meaning of the slogan on his T-shirt.

Women visitors were welcomed with  food and sweets and speeches were made thanking them for their support.

There was a low-key police presence at the Centre in Edgware Road as well as effective stewarding by the Centre itself.

Earlier Brent Council had issued this statement from Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of the council:

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured and all those affected by the serious act of violence which took place outside the Al-majlis Al-Hussaini Center last night.

We are in close contact with the police who are looking into this as a possible hate crime. However, we are reassured that the police do not believe there is an ongoing threat to Brent's Muslim community. There is absolutely no place for hate in our borough. Violence like this will not be tolerated.

We visited representatives at the centre this afternoon and will give them all the help they need.

Brent has one of the most diverse communities in the UK and we are extremely proud of this. We will not allow cowardly acts like this to spread fear and hate amongst our residents.

Brent councillors sign unity petition following the 15,000 strong 'Free Tommy Robinson' protest

From Stand Up to Racism. I understand that so far the petition has been signed by the following Brent Councillors: Tariq Dar, Krupesh Hirani, Margaret McLennan, Claudia Hector and Thomas Stephens.

You can  join them by signing the petition HERE


The 15,000 strong violent far right protest to ‘free Tommy Robinson’ on Saturday 9 June has raised major questions for all those who value our diversity.

The racist right—from hardcore Nazis, through the FLA/DFLA to ‘For Britain’ and UKIP—are using Robinson to re-organise. Nazi salutes and Islamophobia were at the centre of the mobilisation.

This is the first serious attempt since the collapse of the English Defence League (EDL) to develop a racist street movement and give it a political form. It is supported internationally by notorious figures including Geert Wilders from the Dutch Islamophobic right and Steve Bannon, former adviser to Donald Trump.

It is absolutely vital that all who oppose this come together in a united mass movement powerful enough to drive these new developments on the far-right back.

Donald Trump has played a major role in galvanising the racist right. We will take to the streets for the Together Against Trump demonstration coinciding with his visit on 13 July. And when Robinson’s supporters take to the streets again on 14 July, we will protest against them too.

Wherever the far right’s support grows so does racism and violence. Let's come together to defend our multicultural society from those who spread hatred and division.

Initial signatories include:

Diane Abbott MP, Shadow Home Secretary /John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor / Len McCluskey Unite the Union General Secretary /Dave Prentis, Unison General Secretary Talha Ahmed, Muslim Council of Britain Treasurer  Mohammed Kozbar, Finsbury Park Mosque Chairman / Rabbi Lee Wax / Michael Rosen, poet / Kevin Maguire, Journalist / Thurston Moore, Musician / Sabby Dhalu and Weyman Bennett, Co-Convenors, Stand Up To Racism / Ged Grebby, Show Racism the Red Card Chief Executive / Richard Burgon MP, Shadow Justice Secretary / Laura Pidcock MP, Shadow Minister for Labour / Cat Smith MP, Shadow Minister for Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs / David Lammy MP / Emma Dent Coad MP / Marsha De Cordova MP / Andrew Gwynne MP / Lord Peter Hain / Claude Moraes MEP / Julie Ward MEP  Jean Lambert MEP / Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary / Kevin Courtney Joint General Secretary NEU / Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary / Dave Ward, CWU General Secretary / Matt Wrack, FBU General Secretary / Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary / Ian Lawrence, NAPO General Secretary / Steve Gillan, POA General Secretary / Manuel Cortes, TSSA General Secretary / Mick Whelan, ASLEF General Secretary / Claudia Webbe, Labour Party NEC & Islington councillor / Rakhia Ismail, Islington Councillor / Gerry Gable, Editor/Publisher, Searchlight / Julia Bard, National Committee, Jewish Socialists’ Group / Salma Yaqoob / Kate Hudson, CND General Secretary / Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition / Shahrar Ali, Green Party Home Affairs spokesperson / Kerry Abel, Abortion Rights Chair / Asad Rehman, War on Want Executive Director / Sam Fairbairn, People's Assembly Against Austerity / Maz Saleem, anti-racism campaigner/ Stand Up To Trump / Dr Siema Iqbal Co-founder of AVOW (Advancing Voices of Women against Islamophobia) / Phyllis Opoku-Gyimah, UK Black Pride Executive Director / Roger Huddle and Red Saunders, Rock Against Racism founders / David Rosenberg, Author / Alan Gibbons, author / Tony Kearns Deputy General Secretary (postal) CWU / Ian Hodson - BFWAU National President / Harish Patel, Unite the Union National Equalities Officer / Margaret Greer Unison National Race Equality Officer / Steve Hedley, RMT Deputy General Secretary / Jane Loftus, CWU Vice President / Denis Fernando, Rainbow Coalition

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Community reacts quickly to remove Nazi graffiti

Residents near Dollis Hill station in Brent reacted quickly when Nazi graffiti appeared on their street. The community came together and set  to work to clean off the graffiti and were helped by a local councillor.  Worryingly some of the graffiti appeared to be outside the homes of Jewish families.

Lucy Cox, who discovered the graffiti, said:

I'm horrified to see my Jewish neighbours targeted in this way. Anti-semitism is real on the far right and we won't tolerate it in Dollis Hill.

We will be holding a vigil in solidarity on Tuesday evening at 7pm at the bus stop on Hamilton Road. (Near Dollis Hill tube). I hope lots of local people can join us to show our community is united against hate

Sadly there has been anti-semitism in the area in the past when a memorial in Gladstone Park to prisoners of war and concentration camp victims by Fred Kormis was vandalised in 2003. This too led to a counter demonstration opposing racism and anti-semitism. The memorial now has Grade 2 listed status.

Brent Council adopts motion on hate crime with cross party support

The Labour Motion on Hate Crime was adopted by Brent Council this evening. It was moved by Cllr Nerva:

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Brent Council expresses grave alarm and concern at the upswing in hate crime, discriminatory acts and violations of dignity in the last year across the United Kingdom.

We condemn racism and xenophobia as well as all other forms of discrimination (including but not limited to discrimination on the grounds of disability, sex, acts of homophobia, religious intolerance, ageism and any other violations of human rights such as modern slavery) as flagrant breaches of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The council is deeply concerned about the surge in religious hatred, such as antisemitism and islamophobia and strongly condemn all forms of discrimination against religious beliefs. This may constitute expressions of hatred, rhetorical and physical manifestations of religious hatred, including against property, community institutions and religious facilities.

Brent Council welcomes the publication of “Hate Crime: A guide to those affected”. This much needed guide results from a ground-breaking collaborative approach involving the Community Security Trust, Tell MAMA, The Crown Prosecution Service and the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The council unequivocally condemns hate crimes against EU nationals which have seen a rise in the last year. We recognise the essential contribution that EU nationals make to our workforce and communities; the council will continue to help and support this group in any way that we can.

Brent Council pledges to combat all forms of pernicious racism and reiterates that any form of hate crime and discrimination (including discriminatory and mendacious statements or publications, harassment, bullying or victimisation) will not be tolerated in our workforce and communities.
The diversity of the borough and the cohesion between its different communities are major strengths and assets of Brent. We reassure our residents and employees that we continue to provide support for victims of acts described above, to report incidents and will within our powers, take action wherever possible against perpetrators who commit such heinous acts.

Colourful cavalcade of determined anti-fascists commemorate Cable Street's 80th anniversary

The post-Brexit rise in xenophobia amongst politicians, in the mass media and on the street. brought out a great crowd of Londoners today in all their diversity to commemorate the  Cable Street anniversary. 80 years ago Oswald Mosley's fascists were prevented from marching through East London's streets by another diverse group of Londoners. the demography may have changed but the determination remains the same.
 
No to Divide and Rule

They shall NEVER pass

Cable Street Commemoration Sunday: lessons from the past for today.

As the swirl of racism and xenophobia intensifies it is time to make a stand by honouring those who made a stand in the past...

Brent Council and Cara Davani - at last some answers, but ...

On 21 July we published a guest blog from Philip Grant LINK , which asked some questions of Brent Council and its Leader, Cllr. Muhammed Butt, about the pay-off last year to its former Director of Human Resources, Cara Davani.

I am pleased to say that, unlike her predecessor Christine Gilbert last year, Brent Council's Chief Executive, Carolyn Downs has written to provide brief answers to the four points which Philip raised. A copy of her letter is shown below, and readers are invited to consider the information given, and to add any comments they wish to arising from what we now know about the pay-off arrangements.

Green MEP: Letwin appointment confirms worst fears about Brexit

Letwin on 80s riots

Molly Scott Cato, the Green MEP for the South West, a strong supporter of the UK remaining in the EU, has responded in dismay to the announcement that West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin is to head up a special “Brexit Unit” to work on the details of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Letwin has a chequered history. Comments he made after rioting in inner city black communities in the 1980s were widely condemned as racist and he was forced into an unreserved apology. He was also a keen supporter of the highly divisive poll tax and has championed privatisation of the NHS. In 2011 he was caught dumping his constituent’s correspondence in a bin near Downing Street. He is also a climate sceptic and has generally voted against measures to prevent climate change .

Molly said:

The appointment of Oliver Letwin to this crucial role shows our worst fears on what might happen post Brexit being borne out. Rather than choosing a unifying figure who can help a divided nation heal after a bitterly divisive campaign, the Tories select yet another Etonian; a man who comes with a history of prejudice and who played a key role in pushing the deeply divisive poll tax in the 1980’s. His free market views on the NHS and disregard for climate change, the biggest environmental challenge we face, fills me with foreboding for what a post-Brexit England will look like. Cameron needs to bin Letwin and choose a more inclusive and unifying figure to steer us through this extremely difficult process.

Given the vital role that the EU has played in protecting civil and employment rights and environmental protection, Greens believe it is essential that there is political leadership from across the political spectrum during the post-Brexit negotiations. Only in this was can we avoid the risk that the Tories will engage in a destructive and divisive race to the bottom.

Remain for change: Building European solidarity for a democratic alternative - June 15th

I, like I am sure many readers, have felt manipulated by the EU Referendum debate: manipulated into taking sides into what is basically a dispute within the Conservative Party (and a leadership contest), and within British neoliberalism.  The manipulation of the media by the two main camps has meant that the left alternatives for Remain and for Exit have been scarcely heard. In the process the debate has licensed the expression of openly racist views seldom heard since the 60s and 70s - albeit directed against Eastern Europeans rather than East African Asians or people from the Caribbean.

Economists for Rational Economic Policies sum up the problem in the introduction to their new report due to be discussed at a launch on June 15th.   I think the report makes an important contribution to the debate so have posted it at the end of the article.

The economic arguments over the UK’s EU Referendum have generally followed the Conservative government’s own philosophical lines of deregulation and freedom for globalised finance, in which the only true imperatives are the removal of all barriers to trade and capital flows, and the weakening of social and employment protection. This has been the main thrust of the economic arguments put forward by the Conservative “Remain” campaign, in particular the Treasury’s two reports on the long-term and immediate impacts of Brexit

Since much of the leadership of the “Leave” campaign shares the same economic philosophy, but wishes to deregulate still further (save on the issue of immigration), the choice often resembles that between tweedledum and tweedledee. In consequence, many who believe in a more managed economy which looks after the interests of working people and offers decent social protection, and who instinctively consider themselves to be European and internationalist, have felt excluded from the debate.

And alas, the European Union itself has in recent years adopted disastrous economic policies, in particular in relation to the single currency and Eurozone, which have severely damaged working people across much of the continent. Unemployment in the Eurozone has been above 10% since mid-2009, save for one solitary month. Worse, these policies are legally embedded in the EU’s Treaties, making democratic choice for change extremely difficult.

So the natural supporters of the European Union from a politically progressive perspective find themselves faced with a difficult dilemma, notably in relation to economic policy.

Economists for Rational Economic Policies (EREP) has therefore put together this series of articles which, in different ways and from differing perspectives, unite in arguing that for the UK to vote to leave the EU would be a serious mistake – both in economic and political terms. It would tend strengthen right-wing forces both in the UK and across Europe, and weaken the rights of working people. It risks a fragmentation of Europe along nationalist grounds which could even ultimately threaten the peaceful cooperation we have enjoyed across most of our continent for 70 years.

We need a strong EU for the future on a wide range of issues – not least climate change. But we also need to work in solidarity with all those across Europe who can see that Europe has to change the basis of its economic ideology and strategy if it is to fulfil its Treaty commitment to the peoples of Europe to work for “full employment and social progress.. a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment”.

I have posted the full report below:

The free launch event takes place at the University of Greenwich on June 15th. Follow this LINK for speaker details and to book your free tickets.

Jewish Socialists' Group on the anti-semitism furore

Amidst the furore over allegations of anti-semitism this statement was issued by the Jewish Socialists' Group. I have known comrades in the JSG since cooperating in  the 70s and 80s over racism in schools and opposition to the activities of the National Front and other right-wing groups. I think their statement worth reproducing here as a calm and rational response as some of the backwash hits Brent:

Antisemitism exists and must be exposed and fought against in the same way as other forms of racism by all who are concerned with combating racism and fascism.

Antisemitism and anti-Zionism are not the same. Zionism is a political ideology which has always been contested within Jewish life since it emerged in 1897, and it is entirely legitimate for non-Jews as well as Jews to express opinions about it, whether positive or negative. Not all Jews are Zionists. Not all Zionists are Jews.

Criticism of Israeli government policy and Israeli state actions against the Palestinians is not antisemitism. Those who conflate criticism of Israeli policy with antisemitism, whether they are supporters or opponents of Israeli policy, are actually helping the antisemites. We reject any attempt, from whichever quarter, to place legitimate criticism of Israeli policy out of bounds.

Accusations of antisemitism are currently being weaponised to attack the Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour party with claims that Labour has a “problem” of antisemitism. This is despite Corbyn’s longstanding record of actively opposing fascism and all forms of racism, and being a firm a supporter of the rights of refugees and of human rights globally.

A very small number of such cases seem to be real instances of antisemitism. Others represent genuine criticism of Israeli policy and support for Palestinian rights, but expressed in clumsy and ambiguous language, which may unknowingly cross a line into antisemitism. Further cases are simply forthright expressions of support for Palestinian rights, which condemn Israeli government policy and aspects of Zionist ideology, and have nothing whatsoever to do with antisemitism.

The accusations do not refer to antisemitic actions but usually to comments, often made on social media, long before Jeremy Corbyn won the Labour leadership. Those making the charges now, did not see fit to bring them up at the time, under previous Labour leaders, but are using them now, just before mayoral and local elections, when they believe they can inflict most damage on the Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn.

The attack is coming from four main sources, who share agendas: to undermine Jeremy Corbyn as leader of Labour; to defend Israeli government policy from attack, however unjust, racist and harmful towards the Palestinian people; and to discredit those who make legitimate criticisms of Israeli policy or Zionism as a political ideology. As anti-racist and anti-fascist Jews who are also campaigning for peace with justice between Israelis and Palestinians, we entirely reject these cynical agendas that are being expressed by:

• The Conservative Party
• Conservative-supporting media in Britain and pro-Zionist Israeli media sources
• Right-wing and pro-Zionist elements claiming to speak on behalf of the Jewish community
• Opponents of Jeremy Corbyn within the Labour party.

The Jewish Socialists’ Group recognises that ordinary Jewish people are rightly concerned and fearful about instances of antisemitism. We share their concerns and a have a proud and consistent record of challenging and campaigning against antisemitism. But we will not support those making false accusations for cynical political motives, including the Conservative Party, who are running a racist campaign against Sadiq Khan, and whose leader David Cameron has referred to desperate refugees, as “a swarm” and “a bunch of migrants”. The Conservative Party demonstrated their contempt for Lord Dubs, a Jewish refugee from Nazism, when they voted down en masse an amendment a few days ago to allow 3,000 child refugees into Britain while Labour, led by Jeremy Corbyn, gave total support to Lord Dubs and his amendment.

The Jewish Socialists’ Group sees the current fearmongering about antisemitism in the Labour Party for what it is – a conscious and concerted effort by right-wing political forces to undermine the growing support among Jews and non-Jews alike for the Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, and a measure of the desperation of his opponents.

We stand against antisemitism, against racism and fascism and in support of refugees. We stand for free speech and open debate on Israel, Palestine and Zionism.

Refugees Welcome National Demonstration Saturday March 19th

REFUGEES WELCOME - STAND UP TO RACISM. ISLAMOPHOBIA, 

ANTI-SEMITISM AND FASCISM

National demonstration Saturday 19th March 2016 - Assembly 12 noon, Portland Place, London W1

 
Speakers:

Vanessa Redgrave Actor  Diane Abbott MP Claude Moraes MEP Jean Lambert MEP  Jeremy Hardy Comedian Michael Rosen Children’s novelist & poet Gary Younge Journalist Dave Ward CWU Gen Sec Christine Blower NUT Gen Sec Sally Hunt UCU Gen Sec Maurice Wren Chief Exec Refugee Council Harish Patel National Equalities Officer, Unite The Union Gloria Mills, Chair – TUC Race Relations Committee Talha Ahmad National Council, Muslim Council of Britain Zita Holbourne Co-Chair, Black Activists Rising Against Cuts  Marilyn Reed Sarah Reed Campaign for Justice/Blaksox Lee Jasper Movement Against Xenophobia Malia Bouattia NUS Black Students Officer Shakira Martin NUS VP Further Education  Shahrar Ali Deputy Leader, The Green Party Yusuf Hassan VP Federation of Student Islamic Societies Mohammed Kozbar Spokesperson, Muslim Association of Britain Maz Saleem Daughter of the Late Mohammed Saleem Stephanie Lightfoot Bennett Co-Chair, United Friends and Families Gerry Gable Editor, Searchlight Sam Fairbarn Secretary, People’s Assembly Against Austerity Lindsey German Convenor, Stop the War Coalition Sabby Dhalu and Weyman Bennett, Organisers – Stand Up To Racism

info@standuptoracism.org.uk
@antiracismday

Stand Up to Racism Wednesday March 9th

Greens condemn disproportionate use of tasers on black people

Green Party deputy leader Shahrar Ali has called on Home Secretary Theresa May to review the use of tasers and investigate why they are being used so often, after Home Office data showed black people were three times more likely than white people to have the weapons used against them.

Ali said:

These figures show that institutional racism is alive and well in our police force. The disproportionate use of stop and search powers against black people is worrying enough. Tasers are dangerous weapons, and their continued use, even in extreme circumstances, must be subject to review.

The public have a right to a wider debate on the deployment of tasers on UK streets and the Home Secretary must urgently look into why tasers are being used so often

Brent Council Race Equality Award condemned

Following yesterday's revelation that Brent Council was a finalist for a Race for Opportunity award the organisation has received messages from local people about the council's record in this area. Here are two of them:

I am not sure why Race for Opportunity is surprised that BAME representation is decreasing when RFO itself is actively contributing to this state of affairs.

Black staff in Brent are reeling from the shock, as am I, of hearing that RFO has shortlisted Brent Council as a finalist for its RFO Award.

One only has to enter "race discrimination Brent council" in a search engine box to find out how the council's director of HR (acting in cahoots with her friend the chief executive, in further cahoots with the council's employment solicitor, aka director of HR's business and personal partner) was found guilty by an employment tribunal of race discrimination and victimisation of a black manager.

One has only to read some of the Wembley Matters blog articles to find out how disgusted Brent residents are at the council's total failure to investigate this HR director's wrong-doing and initiate disciplinary proceedings. LIN

All of the miscreants in this disgraceful case are desperate to redeem themselves on their CVs for their future employment prospects (the HRD left at the end of June with a payoff, nearly a year after the tribunal exposed her unacceptable behaviour, her partner has followed her and the chief executive's contract will be up some time this month.

They will undoubtedly be thanking RFO profusely that they can now say that they steered the council to being shortlisted for the award. Absolute shame on Race for Opportunity, an organisation that I have hitherto admired.

Googling stuff is so easy to do these days, RFO - not always accurate I know, but such a good idea to avoid promoting the very people that would be anathema to the professed RFO values. Even "Private Eye" has run parts of this dsgraceful story, so it seems only RFO is in the dark.

I will be copy- posting this blog piece on the Wembley Matters blog.

Nan Tewari
former Branch Secretary, Brent Nalgo (now Unison)

I write in disbelief regarding the the nomination of Brent Council for an award from your organisation....it's not April Fools Day yet is it??  Your spokesman is reported as saying that Brent puts " race equality at the heart of their activity"....ouch!!!  Are you aware of the following facts? 

1. Brent was found guilty of racial discrimination in the case of Rosemarie Clarke.   

2. The judge stated that Brent was guilty of bullying, intimidation and constructive dismissal.  

3.The decision in the case was so damning that the judge said that " Brent had no reasonable prospect of success" on appeal. Yet still Brent wasted Council taxpayer monies on fruitless appeals. 

4.The compensation award against Brent is likely to be made in September - perhaps coinciding with your awards ceremony. The exemplary damages are likely to be significant, and the total award against Brent is suggested to be between £500k and £1m.  

5. Brent engaged in a farcical internal review - led by Council Deputy Leader -of its H.R.practices after the case, despite calls throughout Brent for an independent review.   

I would ask you to reflect on your nomination. I am copying this e-mail to interested community parties. 

 Cllr John Warren

Disbelief as Brent Council choose Cara Davani to head up its Equalities Team!

There was disbelief today when the Kilburn Times LINK reported that Cara Davani, Head of Brent's Human resources and found by Watford Employment Tribunal to have racially discriminated against, victimised and constructively dismissed a black council worker will - wait for it - head up Brent Council's Equalities Team!

This is an insult to  Cara Davani's victim, Brent Council workers and Brent residents.

How on earth can anyone have any faith in our Council in the face of such an incredible decision?

Pavey Review not yet available but notes on Constitutional challenge released

The Agenda for Thuursday's meeting of the General Purposes Committee has now been published. The meeting is due to discuss the Pavey Review of Brent Human Resources but the report is not yet available on the Agenda web page.

I understand this is because there are some late additions being made. Instead of the report there is a placeholder:

Following the loss of an employment tribunal case in September, 2014, Councillor Pavey, Deputy Leader, who has Cabinet responsibility for Equalities and the Council’s role as employer, agreed to take stock of the Council’s policies and practice to see where improvements could be made.  Councillor Pavey has now completed his review and will present the findings to the General Purposes Committee.

Although the fullest possible report is obviously desirable, it is unfortunate that members of the committee, the press and the public won't have time to consider it in detail before the meeting.

The Annual Brent Diversity Profile LINK  has been published and this graphic tells its own story about racial equality (Sc3 is the lowest and Hay the highest). Overall % of council workers who are BME is 62%):

Meanwhile the indefatigible Philip Grant is now able to pass on notes of his meeting with Brent Council Leader Muhammed Butt following a resident's successful Freedom of Information request.

Philip asked for a meeting to raise his concerns over the Council's respect of its constitution.

Cllr. Butt had agreed that Mr Grant should take a note of their discussions, and that these should be sent to him for checking, with a view to producing an agreed accurate record of those discussions. It was Cllr. Butt's change of mind on that agreement which means that the Council now claims they are no more than Mr Grant's 'own personal recollection of the meeting'.

Regular readers of Wembley Matters will be able to put a name to the anonymised "AB", especially if they follow those initials in alphabetical order.