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February 09 Racial Justice Update
A selective digest of news, events and other relevant information from Scotland.
From this month’s update:
Racist attack in Glasgow
A Lent prayer for Asylum seekers and refugees
Sign the Let Them Work campaign pledge
We welcome contributions to this update. Please contact the editor.
1. Racist incidents in Scotland:
Snowball fight led to race attack
Police have appealed for witnesses after four white men were seriously assaulted by a group of Asian men in the Pollokshields area of Glasgow. The victims, all aged 20, were having a friendly snowball fight with a group of Asian youths on Kenmure Street at about 2030 GMT on Sunday. Police said four other Asian men got out of a Toyota car and attacked them with a variety of weapons. Officers are treating the attack as a racial incident. All four victims were taken to the Victoria Infirmary suffering from various injuries, including head wounds and broken bones. BBC
Arrests made over snowball attack
Police investigating a snowball fight which led to what was claimed to be a racist attack in the south side of Glasgow have arrested four people. Four white men were seriously injured after they were allegedly assaulted by a group of Asian men on Kenmure Street in Pollokshields on Sunday. It followed a friendly snowball fight with a group of Asian youths. A 15-year-old boy and three men aged 19, 28 and 29 years are expected to appear in court on Monday. BBC
Top referee is charged for 'racist remarks' over player
A referee who officiated in football's top flight has been charged over alleged racist remarks about a former Rangers player. Mike Ritchie, 49, who has taken charge of games in the Scottish Premier League, is claimed to have described a former Rangers striker as a "black b******" after a function in Aberdeen. Scotsman
Police search for trio over racist attack
Police are hunting three men who kicked a BMW and racially abused its Asian occupants at a set of traffic lights on Waverley Bridge. The trio repeatedly kicked the vehicle as it sat at lights at the junction of Waverley Bridge and Princes Street. The suspects also hurled racist abuse at the occupants during the incident, which took place last Saturday between 9.45pm and 10pm. The suspects are all described as white, aged 20-25, and of average build. Edinburgh News
Racist vandals attack hall leased by Muslims
Vandals have scrawled racist graffiti on a community sports hall which is due to be leased to a Muslim group. The slogan Muslim People Suck was daubed on the side of Woodfarm Sports Hall in Thornliebank, which is to be converted into an after-school education centre. … Council leader Jim Fletcher said: "This is a facility for local people and we were approached by local Muslims living in Thornliebank, Orchard Park and Giffnock. "The terms of the lease are very specific and the Woodfarm Education Trust is equally clear the facility will be open to the whole community to play its part in further promoting the good community relations which we already enjoy in East Renfrewshire." Evening times
Racist thug jailed for knife raid on shop
A racist thug has been jailed for six years for a violent robbery on a shopkeeper who had befriended him. Barry Collins stabbed Sardar Reza before stealing cash from his grocery store in Glasgow's West End. The attack happened just six months after Iraqi-born Mr Reza had taken over the shop. Evening Times
Black And Ethnic Minority Police 'still Treated Unfairly'
Black and ethnic minority police officers in Scotland are being let down by an "unfair" system that prevents them from progressing, a senior officer has claimed. Herald
Recession has sparked prejudice against Poles, claims consul general
A senior Polish diplomat has claimed that the recession has brought about an increased level of xenophobia in Scotland. Aleksander Piotkow, the consul general in Edinburgh, said he had been notified of three or four incidents in recent months of Poles being told to go home. Scotsman
Church of England Synod votes for BNP membership ban
The General Synod of the Church of England has voted overwhelmingly to back a motion calling for a prohibition on clergy and senior staff being members of the far-right British National Party. The BNP is seen as one of a range of extreme groups sanctioning dangerous and racist policies, and has tried in the recent past to put on a Christian front. Ekklesia
Sold Into Misery: 700 Sex Slaves Living In Scotland
Exclusive: Up to 700 victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation are living in Scotland but there have been no successful prosecutions. Herald
2. Developments, Reports and Investigations
Fife group asks for ‘offensive’ dolls to go
Shops selling “gollie” dolls have been told to remove the toys from their shelves by a Fife organisation promoting racial awareness. Fife Race, Awareness and Education—known as FRAE Fife—said traders stocking the items show a lack of respect for the feelings of ethnic minority groups, and attacked Carol Thatcher’s use of the word “golliwog.” Naeem Khalid, FRAE Fife’s co-ordinator, said, “Living in a diverse society, we should respect and be sensitive to people’s feelings. Courier
New report says racism still rife in police force
An independent review chaired by one of the three men who oversaw the Stephen Lawrence inquiry a decade ago has concluded that the police remain institutionally racist. Dr Richard Stone called the review's findings "dispiriting" and said the police's failure to address them would have serious repercussions on the streets of Britain's inner cities. "If it's not addressed, this will explode in their faces," Stone said. "There's a lot of resentment on the streets; there's a lot of anger." Stone, along with Dr John Sentamu, now Archbishop of York, and Tom Cook, the former West Yorkshire police chief, was one of three advisers to Sir William Macpherson, who carried out the original inquiry. He said it was clear the police had made huge efforts at tackling the problem and that some quarters of the criminal justice system - such as the Crown Prosecution Service - had made significant improvements in dealing with race crime. Guardian
Black abolitionist to be honoured at church in Westminster
The popular notion that the anti-slave trade movement was a white one is being challenged by the honouring of a key black campaigner for abolitionism through a memorial in St Margaret’s Church in Westminster - right next to the Houses of Parliament in London. The Anglican Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will attend the dedication of the memorial of Olaudah Equiano at St Margaret’s on 9 February 2009. Revolts by slaves themselves on plantations also played a crucial role in ending the transatlantic trade, as well as economic change and pressure from church figures, politicians and other activists. Equiano (1745 – 1797), who was also known by his slave name of Gustavus Vassa, was baptised at St Margaret’s Church on 9 February 1759. His autobiography The Interesting Narrative Of The Life Of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, The African depicted the horrors of slavery and helped influence British lawmakers to abolish the slave trade through the Slave Trade Act of 1807. Ekklesia
Free speech and racial slurs butt heads in Britain
Britons generally agree - or say they do - that being racist is bad and that making racist remarks is wrong. But there is no national consensus on what that means, exactly. Take references to "golliwogs," which are Little Black Sambo-style dolls, or to "Pakis," a slur referring to people of Pakistani descent. Both terms have been used in Britain recently by famous people in infamous incidents. But though public condemnation followed each time, so did condemnation of the condemnation, the gist of which was that no offense had been meant, so no offense should have been taken. International Herald Tribune
Carol Thatcher, the Pope and selective anti-racism
In the normal course of events, it should not be difficult to distinguish between Pope Benedict XVI and Carol Thatcher. The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is a startlingly intelligent, multi-lingual ex-university professor; Carol Thatcher . . . isn’t. Yet the two are now serendipitously linked as this week’s joint occupants of the doghouse in which we place those deemed to have offended against public decency. Times
3. Asylum refugees:
Zimbabwe toddler fight taken to PM
The desperate fight to save a Dundee woman’s toddler and mother from crisis-torn Zimbabwe has gone to Number 10. Angus MP Mike Weir has written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown to demand an urgent rethink before the infant and her gran are forced to return to the highly-volatile African country. And he has vowed to take the battle to Westminster and the Commons chamber if the Labour chief fails to act to save little McKenzie and gran Cheryl from an uncertain fate. Courier
See also Angus MP calls for debate on rules keeping mum from tot
Church of England General Synod calls for better treatment of asylum seekers
(T)his Synod, continuing to affirm scriptural teaching about care for vulnerable people, welcome for strangers and foreigners, and the Church's calling to reach out to the marginalized and persecuted, call upon Her Majesty's Government:
(a) to ensure that the treatment of asylum seekers is just and compassionate, and to that end to:
i. confer a right to work on all asylum seekers,
ii. declare an amnesty for so called 'legacy cases' that predate the Government's New Asylum Model, and
iii. bring to an end the practice of detaining children and families in Immigration Removal Centres;
Church of England Website
Bishop gave shelter to asylum-seekers
The bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd David James, had been in possible danger of arrest when police and immigration officials had arrived at his house to seize a mother, father, and two small chil¬dren whom they intended to deport, Bishop James said this week. Speaking on Tuesday, after his remarks during a General Synod debate last week on asylum-seekers, Bishop James said that he had been sheltering the family in his own home because he had fears for the safety of the mother. Church Times
Let asylum-seekers work
Maybe it is a consequence of the recession. Maybe it is simply that the court system still moves at snail's pace. Whatever the reason, the vexed question of asylum-seekers is moving up the public and political agenda again. Earlier this week a family from the Democratic Republic of Congo was awarded a record £150,000 in compensation for unlawful detention. The couple and their two children had been detained in Yarl's Wood detention centre for eight weeks in 2006. Their asylum claim was subsequently granted. The case came two months after the award of £38,000 to a woman from Cameroon, who had been held at Yarl's Wood, despite rules designed to ensure that victims of torture were not detained in this way. Both cases are expected to give the green light to other cases concerning torture victims or young families. Yesterday the Church of England Synod – which this week has shown an admirable concern for some of the grittier aspects of life in this country – called for asylum-seekers to be allowed to work pending a decision on their application. Speakers argued that the current system leaves people in poverty and without dignity, and they put their weight – by a vote of 242 to one – behind a call for the rules to change. The Independent
Sign the Let Them Work campaign pledge Here
Archbishop Joseph Tawil's 1970 Christmas Message
In a ghetto life is closed in upon itself, operating only within itself, with its own ethnic and social cliches. And the Parish lives upon the ethnic character of the community; when that character disappears, the community dies and the parish dies with it. One day all our ethnic traits - language, folklore, customs - will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we cannot think of our communities as ethnic parishes, primarily for the service of the immigrant or the ethnically oriented, unless we wish to assure the death of our community.
Government U-turn on health care for people refused asylum?
People who have been refused asylum in the UK are currently denied access to GPs. There are promising signs that this may be about to change. Church Action on Poverty
Week In Week Out BBC
4. Immigration
Polish is most-spoken foreign language in Scottish schools
Polish is now the most spoken foreign language among pupils in Scottish schools, according to figures published yesterday. Statistics published in Holyrood's Pupils in Scotland 2008 document show Polish ahead of Punjabi and Urdu in schools for the first time. The findings were made as part of the government's annual census of pupils. A total of 26,801 students at publicly funded schools in all 32 Scottish council areas took part in the census. Daily Record
Sharp rise in pupils lacking English 'could risk education of all children'
A HUGE rise in pupils who do not speak English as a first language is threatening to undermine the education of all children, teachers have warned. In just a year, the number of children in Scottish schools who do not speak fluent English has risen by 61.5 per cent, according to Scottish Government figures published today. The surge, particularly in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, has been attributed to immigration, especially from Poland. Herald
Download or read the Scottish Government publication from here
Border control plan for Scots
Scottish citizens would need passports to travel to England after independence, Labour ministers have warned. Times
Scots Anger At UK Government Plan To Halve Migrant Workers
Jacqui Smith yesterday revealed the number of skilled workers allowed into the UK from outside the EU will be cut almost in half from next year as the recession worsens. Herald
5. Publications and Resources:
Safeguarding Children in Scotland who may have been Trafficked
Guidance developed to support professionals in identifying, assessing and providing appropriate support for children who may have been victims of trafficking. Scottish Government
Also:
Safeguarding Children in Scotland who may have been Trafficked: Analysis of Responses
Safeguarding Children in Scotland who may have been Trafficked: Scottish Government Response to the Consultation Analysis
What can I do? Your Guide to Volunteering Opportunities in the Criminal Justice System
A Launch of this Guide will take place at the Visitor Centre at HM Prison Edinburgh at 10.30 am on Tuesday 24th February 2009, to which you are warmly invited by the Joint Faiths Advisory Board on Criminal Justice. A copy of the Guide can be found here
The potential of migrant and refugee community organisations to influence policy
A report on a partnership set up to test how migrant and refugee community organisations could change policies and practices that are crucial to the lives of their communities. A Joseph Rowntree Foundation Report
The February 2009 edition of Migrants Rights News
To read the full newsletter, please visit their website
A Lent prayer for Asylum seekers and refugees:
Wise and compassionate God, help us to bear the burdens refugees
and asylum-seekers carry and not simply seek to shift the burden onto others.
Call our leaders to justice, generosity and compassion. Help them create and
implement strategies that are fair and just and treat refugees and asylum-seekers with dignity and care.
O God, our comforter, we ask you to comfort the broken-hearted and protect the
vulnerable. We pray for those who live in fear of detention and removal, for those who are in detention at this time and for those who face removal to an uncertain future. We ask you to assure them of your great love, surround them with your presence and fill them with your peace.
God bless our eyes so that we will recognise injustices.
God bless our ears so that we will hear the cry of the stranger.
God bless our mouths so that we will speak words of welcome to newcomers.
God bless our shoulders so we will be able to bear the weight of struggling for justice.
God bless our hands so that we can work together with all people to establish peace.
Events:
Poverty Truth Commission, 21st March 2009
Scotland’s inaugural Poverty Truth Commission will take place from 2pm – 5pm on the 21st March 2009 in Glasgow’s City Chambers.
More information at the Faith in Community website
“ This is my village now “
Satinwood Suite
Glasgow City Chambers
Wed 15 April 9.30 –12.30
Lunch and crèche facilities will be available. Please reply if you are interested in attending.
Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees Margaret – 07870 286 632; Jock – 07896 877 315
Equality and Human Rights Commission Road shows
18 March 2009 in Aberdeen
Opportunities for advice-giving and frontline representatives of voluntary, community, and educational organisations to meet the EHRC Legal Team and find out more about the Commission and how to work with it, and to let the EHRC know what issues are most significant to you and your service users. For information contact James Andrew 0141 228 5917 / David Reilly 0141 228 5967 / roadshow@equalityhumanrights.com
Equality and Diversity
23 April 2009 in Aberdeen (9.30 – 4.30)
SCVO seminar exploring the myths and facts surrounding the six equality strands - race, gender, disability, religion and belief, sexual orientation and age. For information contact Jane Baillie jane.baillie@scvo.org.uk / 0131 474 8019.
UK Asylum Statistics: 4th Quarter Oct/Nov/Dec 2008
The Home Office published yesterday their quarterly bulletin on Asylum statistics Oct/Nov/Dec 2008, also included are breakdown of statistics for the whole of 2008. See NCADC for details and publication http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine103/statsQ4:2008.html
Solidarity Gathering – Dungavel
Friends of refugees will be holding it's next regular solidarity gathering outside Dungavel on Sunday 22nd March at 1.00pm. all welcome bring banners and singing voices.
Consultations:
Forced Marriage: A Civil Remedy? (28 March 2009)
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Editor
Nelu Balaj