PRESS RELEASE: BARAC member stands for Mayor as Respect Party candidate





PRESS RELEASE

RESPECT PARTY IS FIRST TO NOMINATE MAYORAL CANDIDATE

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 13TH MAY 2012

Contact details: Jerry Hicks 07817 827912 jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk

    Paulette North 07866 876277 pletnorth@blueyonder.co.uk

 At a meeting of the Bristol branch of the Respect Party held on 9th May, Paulette North was selected as their candidate to stand in the forthcoming mayoral elections. The vote was unanimous.

Paulette North is a 56 year old retired teacher. She was born in the East End of London to a Vietnamese father and a Jamaican mother. She is a prominent member of Bristol Defend Asylum Seekers Campaign, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Avon and Bristol Law Centre, a member of the steering group of the Bridges Art Project, a member of the National Union of Teachers, a supporter of Stop the War and convenor of Bristol BARAC (Black Activists Rising Against the Cuts). She initiated Bristol’s Stephen Lawrence Memorial Lectures and is the presenter of the Thursday Outlook Show on Ujima local radio. 

Paulette is no stranger to electoral campaigning. She has stood three times for the Respect Party, for MP, MEP and in local council elections in Easton in 2007 where she secured over 19% of the vote.

Paulette says, “We need to build on the expertise, cultural diversity and riches that we already have in this city. I would like to see people come first. It is a disgrace that this city, which is one of the most prosperous in the UK, also has some of the most deprived areas in the country. We need to give hope to our young people by restoring the Educational Maintenance Allowance. Businesses should be providing apprenticeships at proper rates of pay”.

She added, “Council tax should be replaced by a local income tax based on people’s ability to pay and big business should be contributing much more. We need to bring schools back under genuine accountable local control and stop them being forced or bribed to become academies. Our elders must be provided with good quality support by the council and the cuts made in community funding must be restored. The privatisation of bus and rail transport has been a disaster – high fares, overcrowded trains and inadequate levels of service in many parts of the city”.

Bristol Respect convenor Jerry Hicks said, “I am backing Paulette because she understands the concerns of ordinary working people. Nobody thought Respect had a chance in Bradford but George Galloway is now an MP and we have 5 councillors in the city. The voters realised that the three main parties offer nothing but cuts in pay and services in response to the crisis created by the greed of bankers. We offer a message of hope that is being taken up by people across Europe”

Hilary Banks, Director of Signpost and Rite Direkshon, said, “Black people have been massively underrepresented at the top level in Bristol politics. It is great that the first party nominee for mayor is a black woman with an outstanding record in uniting black and white in the struggle for justice. BARAC wholeheartedly endorses her nomination”.

Paulette is married with two children, a son at Cardiff University and a daughter at Bristol University. Both attended Bristol local authority primary and secondary schools.

Paulette is opposed to the excessive salaries paid to senior officials and would only accept the average working wage as mayor. She is also determined not to burden council tax payers with the costs of another layer of bureaucracy and would rely on existing council staff to support the work of the mayor.    

PRESS RELEASE: PARENTS OF TRAYVON MARTIN TO ADDRESS A PUBLIC MEETING & VIGIL IN LONDON ON FRIDAY 11TH OF MAY

Click here for FaceBook event page

Parents of murdered black teenager Trayvon Martin to address public meeting and vigil in London tomorrow

The parents of the murdered US African American boy Trayvon Martin, Tracy Martin & Sybrina Fulton will speak tomorrow, Friday 11th of May at a public meeting and vigil  (details of both events below).

The Trayvon Martin family issued the following statement:

"We are humbled by the support we have received from the people in London and around the world. The struggle of people like Doreen Lawrence in Britain, who invited us here and whom we met yesterday, shows us that as in the USA, there is a problem of racial profiling in society and amongst institutions. We would like to work with people here in London and around the world to help end the scourge of racial injustice across the globe."

Zita Holbourne, National Co-Chair Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK said:

"We are delighted to be able to host this meeting and like many people throughout the world we are both  angered and saddened at the news of Trayvon Martin's murder. This meeting will offer the opportunity for people to hear first hand what happened to the Trayvon Martin family and offer support and solidarity to them and for us to discuss how we can work together in order to tackle racial injustice globally."

Lee Jasper, National Co-Chair Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK said,

"In the run up to the Olympics we intend to work with others to highlight racism here in Britain and throughout the world. The case of Trayvon Martin echoes cases that span decades and continents. Global racism is on the rise and as the economic crisis worsens we must be organise against those who seek to whip up racism and scapegoat black communities. This meeting will be the start of that international campaign to expose racism in Britain and the rest of the world. All over the world the 99% are saying without justice there can be no peace" 

Sabby Dhalu, Unite Against Fascism Joint Secretary and One Society Many Cultures Secretary said:

"We are delighted to welcome the Martin family and show solidarity with both the family and the anti-racist movement in the USA. The struggle against racism is an international one. There are many similarities with the Trayvon Martin case, the injustice experienced by Stephen Lawrence's family and many other victims of racist attacks and murders here in Britain. We welcome the opportunity to work with the family and partners in the USA, in building an international movement against racism." 

Event details

Friday 11 May

1. 3-5pm: Public meeting at the University of London Union, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, London 

Chair: Zita Holbourne PCS executive member and Co Chair of Black Activists Rising Against the Cuts (BARAC)

Speakers: Trayvon Martin family representatives and  activists Lee Jasper, Stafford Scott, Carole Duggan  (Duggan Family Campaign) Simon Woolley (Operation Black Vote) Michael Abatan (Justice for Jay Campaign), Michael Kennedy (Campaign for Justice) Kanja Sesay National Union of Students (NUS) Black Students Officer, Aaron Kiely (NUS Black Students Campaign) , Weyman Bennett and Sabby Dhalu (Unite Against Fascism), Denis Fernando (One Society Many Cultures) and  more British based activists tbc

Organised by BARAC and supported by Unite Against Fascism, One Society Many Cultures in conjunction with Million Hoodies Movement in the USA.  

For more information for this event contact

Zita Holbourne 07711 861660

Lee Jasper    07984 181797

2. 6pm: Vigil, Downing Street, London

Chair: Denis Fernando, One Society Many Cultures

Speakers will include: those listed above and many more special guests tbc

Organised by: Unite Against Fascism and One Society Many Cultures, supported by BARAC, in conjunction with Million Hoodies Movement USA. 

For more information about this event contact

Sabby Dhalu 07794 633 097

Denis Fernando 07790022472

Weyman Bennett 07734 032 314

Video: Lee Jasper speaks at Rage Against Racism



https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rage-Against-Racism-UK/155628231231674



Rage Against Racism, rally at the Swedish Embassy in London on Tuesday May 1st

The rally is calling on the Government to commit to ending the racist misrepresentation and stereotyping of Black Women within the political, social and cultural dialogue of the UK. The protest is in part inspired by the racially charged, misogynistic cake created by Swedish artist Makode Aj Linde for World Art Day. The cake, which prompted laughter from spectators, has angered anti-racism campaigners around the world. Sam Asumadu, Organiser, Black Feminists: "Far from challenging racism, the Swedish art installation failed to adequately contextualise a highly sensitive issue. This is just another ripple of racism, just one of the many ripples that hide under the guise of humanitarianism, or art, or advertising or social commentary."
ñ Female Genital Mutilation offered by UK medics -- April 2012
ñ Cadbury compares Naomi Campbell to a chocolate bar -- June 2011
ñ LSE claims Black women are less attractive -- May 2011
ñ Just 500 people surveyed to represent all British Asians in "honour code" research for Panorama -- March 2012
ñ Athlete Tiffany Porter referred to as "plastic" because of her nationality -- March 2012
ñ Over representation of Black women's involvement in UK-wide riots -- August 2011
ñ Under representation of African women in Leadership. E.g. In UK parliament, management despite their qualifications and professional experienceAsumadu adds: "Mayor of London Boris Johnson has argued that the way to challenge racism is to 'axe large chunks of the anti-racism industry' and instead rely on 'tolerance and good manners'.
"So in the absence of an effective response from the Mayor or government, we are gathering to protest in the name of all Black women who are being objectified, dehumanised and degraded." Lee Jasper, activist and former Senior Policy Advisor to the Mayor of London, said: "Black women in Europe are facing increased rates of racism and sexism. Objectified, stereotyped, denigrated and oppressed they face multiple levels of discrimination."Every year more than 22,000 girls in the UK and up to 6,000 in London are at risk of undergoing the surgery. Saria Khalifa from FORWARD said: "We support the 'Rage Against Racism protest' at the Swedish Embassy as we campaign to end Female Genital Mutilation. Never should awareness raising insult and degrade the very people who undergo FGM. This is another sad example of offensive misrepresentation of an important issue."
For further information please contact:
blackfeministsuk@gmail.com or go to http://blackfeminists.org/blog/

Sign & Share this Petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/minister-of-culture-sweden-apologise-for-the-display-of-offensive-artwork-of-black-women

The reason I believe black people cannot be racist: on BBC London with Dotun Adebayo

'Race Campaigner Lee Jasper says "Black People can't be Racist", 'Operation Black Vote' & Director of 'Black People Don't Vote' make last call for black participation in Mayoral Elections.'

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00r17mf

Kanja Sesay

 This week at NUS National Conference, NUS Liberation Officers Kanja Sesay and Vicki Baars succeeded in transforming the agenda within NUS to take on the Tories’ cuts and challenge racist scapegoating. In the words of Kanja Sesay, NUS Black Students’ Officer: “the policies of the NUS Black Students’ Campaign are now the policies of the National Union of Students.”

NUS Conference 2012: Liberation Campaigns set the agenda for a fighting NUS By Aaron Kiely, NUS NEC & Campaign Manager for NUS Presidential Candidate Kanja Sesay.


The path of betrayal that the NUS leadership have pursued for almost two years, which has seen the Tory onslaught on students go unchallenged was rejected in support of an NUS that fights to defend students. By an overwhelming majority, the Conference voted for the motion submitted by the Black Students’ Campaign and others for NUS to organise a first term national demonstration against cuts, fees, high interest on student debt and privatisation. A few weeks ago the idea of NUS organising a national demonstration to defend students was dismissed as irrelevant by the majority of the NUS leadership – from the President down.

But the campaign for a national demo initiated by Kanja and Vicki showed how passionately students felt about fighting back, with over 150 students leaders and all of the NUS Liberation Campaigns signing up to say Yes We Can to #NUSdemo2012! This week conference voted for a national demo with nearly every student organisation backing it. Following the vote for a national demo, conference went on to elect Vicki Baars (NUS LGBT Officer) to be the next Vice President Union Development, who stood on a record and a platform of fighting the Tories’ attacks on students, prioritising support for campaigns for liberation and equality and developing Students’ Unions as beacons of activism, engagement and inclusiveness. Vicki co-convenes the Love Music Hate Homophobia campaign run jointly by NUS LGBT and Unite Against Fascism, and has for many years supported the NUS Black Students’ Campaign, meaning that her victory is particularly exciting for the future of NUS.

 I spoke on the motion ‘No to Racism On Our Campuses and in Our Communities’ which passed with overwhelming support. I am incredibly proud that we have persuaded NUS National Conference to re-establish the NUS Anti-Racism/Anti-Fascism Conference and to re-affiliate to Unite Against Fascism whose inspiring work of challenging fascism at the ballot box and when they attack our communities with violent protests has made many areas of Britain safer for Black students and all groups targeted by the far right.

 The years of campaigning for NUS to support justice for Palestine have finally begun to get results. A highlight of the conference was Vice President Society & Citizenship Dannie Grufferty’s report outlining the work she has done to support unions boycotting companies complicit with the illegal occupation of Palestine. This is a huge transformation from the approach of the NUS leadership just a few years ago, when after Israel’s war on Gaza in 2008/09 in which 1,400 Palestinians were killed the NUS President condemned students across the country for organising occupations that successfully pressured universities to send educational aid to Gaza.

In contrast the NUS Black Students’ Campaign has always supported international justice, including sending their Officer on a blockade-busting convoy to Gaza and playing a vital role in changing NUS’ policy on Palestine. Whilst it is disappointing that Kanja did not win the Presidential race, I am proud of the leading role he played at this year’s conference to turn NUS around. In his election speech Kanja asked the question: “In light of the greatest assault on students and wider society for generations, what will NUS do?” Delegates answered this question with their overwhelming support for #NUSdemo2012. The mandate for the NUS leadership from conference could not be clearer: change direction and fight the Tories. Bring on the “autumn of resistance”!

Aaron Kiely
http://aaronkiely.org.uk

Seize The Time: 21st May, featuring John Carlos, Doreen Lawrence & Janet Alder.

"How can you ask someone to live in the world and not have something to say about injustice." John Carlos

For further details about this event please email: unjummirza@yahoo.co.uk

Revelation calls MPS Commissioner’s commitment to rooting out discrimination into question - Lee Jasper exclusive

Bernard Hogan-Howe

MPS Commissioner’s commitment to rooting out discrimination called into question after reports that he reinstated ‘ racist’ officer.

The commitment of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service to tackling racism is being called into question, as sources within the MPS provided evidence that he had previously reinstated a police officer accused of racism.

There is already widespread disenchantment from Met police officers who are desperate to challenge the racism of their colleagues but who doubt the commitment of senior officers, including the Commissioner to take real action.

MPS Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan Howe, while he was an Assistant Commissioner with the MPS, overturned a decision to sack a police traffic officer (who had been reported by a fellow officer) for racially abusing a black man whilst on traffic patrol in London.

It is said that having been overtaken by a black man with dreadlocks the officer forced the man to stop before delivering a volley of racist abuse. The man was not arrested or charged with any offence. A fellow officer in the police car at the time was so shocked by the severity of the abuse that he reported the incident to his senior officers

At a subsequent internal disciplinary hearing the officer was found guilty and it was recommended that he be sacked with immediate effect. The officer appealed against the decision and that appeal was then heard by the then Assistant Commissioner Bernard Hogan Howe. He overturned that decision citing the fact that although the officer had some 15 years in the job he had not had any ‘ race relations’ training.

With the Commissioner having responded to recent cases highlighting the racist behavior of his officers by setting out his total commitment to opposing racism, this case will call into question that commitment. Reported in the Guardian, the Commissioner made public his commitment to tackling racism within the police service.

He stated:

"I will not stand for any racism or racists."

Adding,

"We have a duty to challenge or report any behaviour by colleagues which is less than the high standard demanded by the service and Londoners themselves," he said. "You cannot avoid that duty. Nor can I."

That commitment must now be called into question as a result of what appears to be his personal decision to overturn the decision taken by fellow officers to sack the PC concerned.

Questions need to be asked about how many MPS officers found guilty of racism through the MPS disciplinary process have been subsequently reinstated?

Further there must be full disclosure of how many times similar decisions were personally taken by Commissioner Howe whilst employed at the MPS and as Chief Constable for Merseyside?

With the MPS in the grip of a ‘race crisis’ this new evidence will seriously call into question the Commissioner’s personal and professional commitment to tackle racism in the MPS.

With the trust and confidence of London communities rocked by recent revelations and a now growing crisis of confidence of officers within the Met the situation is becoming critical.

This is just one of a series of cases not yet in the public domain that will emerge over the coming weeks, that is bound to further damage the beleaguered reputation of the MPS with Londoners. 

Lee Jasper