London Rally - 'Operation Hope & Recovery'

 

"If you want to be part of something more than just a discussion in response to recent events please come along. I need you to work hard in support as this event has been organised at incredibly short notice on the basis that an urgent response was necessary, please spread the word far and wide." Lee Jasper

http://www.blackmeninthecommunity.com/hopeandrecovery

Friday, August 19, 2011 from 18:30 to 21:00

Friends House
Friends House
173-177 Euston Road NW1 2BJ London
United Kingdom

Directions to venue:-


By rail: From its position opposite Euston’s rail and tube stations, it is a ten minute walk from King’s Cross Station and St Pancras International Terminus. All major rail terminals are easily reached by tube. 

By tube: The nearest tube stations are Euston and Euston Square, which are on the Northern, Victoria, Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines. 

By bus: Numbers 10, 18, 30, 73, 205 and 390 pass the door whilst 59, 68, 91, 168, and 253 stop nearby. 

By car: Friends House is within a meter parking zone. Charges must be paid Monday to Friday 08.30 - 18.30 and Saturday 09.00 - 13.30. There are alternative, longer-term parking facilities under Euston Station. Please note that Friends House is within the congestion charge zone. For details of how to pay please go to http://www.cclondon.com/.
International visits: St Pancras International Terminus is a ten minute walk away. Nearby Paddington Station offers a frequent shuttle service to Heathrow Airport. All London airports are easily reached from Euston. 

This is a call for action to join ‘Operation Hope & Recovery‘.

 Please read on to find out more and register your attendance

Transformation through Representation, Education and Enterprise (TREE)
 Mission
Transformation through Representation, Education and Enterprise (TREE) has been established as a response to the huge level of damage, frustration and anger that preceded and has followed the civil disturbances of August 2011.
TREE represents a diverse coalition of organisations from across the racial, social and economic fabric of UK life. Its current membership includes black-led churches, ‘mainstream’ church denominations, faith groups, community leaders, community organisations and individuals from all backgrounds that are committed to making the UK a more peaceful, equal and just country.
Aim
TREE’s aim is to provide clear political direction to disenfranchised and alienated communities as they struggle to tackle the issues they now face as a result of the August 2011 civil disturbances.
In pursuance of our aim, we will:

• Launch and develop ‘Operation Hope and Recovery’. At the cornerstone of this operation will be an electoral registration programme targeting those communities affected by the disturbances. Our aspiration is that this will go down in history as one of the most significant national mass voter registration drives ever seen in British political history

• As part of Operation Hope and Recovery, establish initiatives that connect local communities (and especially young people) with the democratic process by informing them of how it works and what they can do to effect the change they wish to see

• Raise the importance, and where appropriate facilitate assistance to communities on matters relating to enterprise, entrepreneurialism, business start-ups and economic independence. We will also establish meaningful dialogue with government, leading politicians and business leaders on these issues

• Encourage political representation by providing specialist support and encouragement to individuals in terms of standing for public office (without party political bias)

• Positively request the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimation (CERN) and the UK Government initiate an ‘Inquiry into the UK Riots’

• Make appropriate representation and challenge the media and politicians to cease what is being increasingly viewed by communities as a negative and in some quarters racist representation of the ‘riots’ and one that demonises young people in general

• Support and partner (where appropriate) other organisations that provide specialist services in the areas that relate to the core purpose of TREE

• Place a progressive context to the ongoing political debate on issues to the nation’s morals and values.

‘Operation Hope & Recovery‘ begins this Friday 19th August in London with further rallies in other cities to follow

To register,  go to:

http://operationhopeandrecovery.eventbrite.com/

Copyright © 2011 BLACK MEN IN THE COMMUNITY

Riots, Recession & Resistance - Lee Jasper - 11 August 2011

Reverend Jesse Jackson joins BME leaders in voicing concern

A coalition of BME leaders including Reverend Jesse Jackson have come together to voice their concerns about the recent events which have hit Britain.


Read the full statement below:

We, the undersigned, condemn the wanton violence and looting that has been perpetrated in our communities over the last few days. Above all it is good people in our areas such as Tottenham, Enfield, Walthamstow, Birmingham, Liverpool, Brixton who are most affected by these unacceptable actions.

However, whilst, unreservedly condemning the disgraceful actions of a minority, we must not ignore those elements that make these occurrences more likely. For example, the death of Mark Duggan is sad enough, however, the lack of information to his family and very conflicting reports of how his death occurred leads many to hold a deep distrust towards some authorities including the police.

Sadly this unclear, and at times, conflicting information given by the police and other related bodies has occurred in a number of recent deaths of Black men in police custody.

Equally we strongly feel that to do this debate, we must not ignore other conditions that make these occurrences more probable, including high Black and Minority Ethnic (BME):
- levels of youth unemployment
- levels of police stop and search
- detention rates under the Mental Health Act in the country
- the decimation of voluntary organisations which cater for young men and women in these areas.

In no way are these excuses for lawbreaking, but they are factors that need to be considered.

Our final message is to our communities in which we serve. Together, we must forge an even stronger sense of local community.

We call upon our MPs , Councillors and church leaders to meet and discuss our response. We call upon our young men and women to reject those who see this as an excuse for unlawful behaviour including looting, and show the rest of country our readiness to shoulder the responsibility to rebuild our communities out of the ashes of destruction.

Signed by: Reverend Jesse Jackson; Rainbow-Push Coalition; Simon Woolley, Operation Black Vote; Rob Berkeley, Runnymede Trust; Dr Elizabeth Henry, ROTA; Lee Jasper, BARAC; Sharon Grant, Chair of Haringey CAB; Remi Kapo, Author; Matilda MacAttram, Black Mental Health UK; Claudia Webbe, Operation Trident; Jeremy Crook, BTEG; Bishop David Shoshanya; Bishop Joe Aldred; Remi Kapo, Author; Karen Chouhan, Equanomics UK; Vandna Gohil, Voice 4 Change; Bishop Wayne Malcolm; Dave Weaver, 1990 Trust & Viv Ahmun, Black Men in the Community.


(Originally published at OBV http://www.obv.org.uk)