UN anti-racism day: the importance of protesting against racism
UN anti-racism day is on 20th March each year providing an annual focus to the fight against racism. Of course that fight takes place on a daily basis but March 20th provides one way when the many campaigns can come together, united.
Of course due to COVID there has been no physical protest since 2019, so 2022 provided a chance to see how the fight against racism is progressing perhaps particularly in the light of the rise of Black Lives Matter and yet more racist legislation and demonisation of refugees from the Tories.
I’m usually on the London protest, which attracted 10,000 this year and by definition is the largest of three held. 2000 marched in Glasgow and 700 in Cardiff on Sunday, the capital hosting a Six Nations rugby game on Saturday.
I was on the Cardiff protest this year at the rally outside the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff Bay. Hosted by the General Secretary of the Wales TUC Shavanah Taj it was an impressive affair. Impressive not just in the breadth of those attending from union and left banners to young anti-racists but also in speakers from campaigns in defence or refugees or focusing on deaths in police custody. Mick Anthony the Counsel General for Wales whose own family came to Wales as refugees from Ukraine in an earlier period, underlined that all refugees are welcome.
Of course the protests gets some publicity but they also, and this is perhaps the key thing, give activists and campaigns a chance to meet, to see what they have in common and to look at how they can fight racism in future. Virtual meetings and events allow for accessibility but getting on to the streets provides a key element and sense of unity and progress.
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