In debates surrounding the complex social, political and economic situation that France is facing, the far Right has continued to exercise its political voice. Yet young people from the banlieues (suburbs), many of whom are affected by racism and discrimination as part of their everyday lives, suffer from a dearth of political representation and are
Theme: Climate
No escape
According to a recent report, discrimination on the basis of caste is one of the most insidious and unacknowledged forms of discrimination in the UK today. It may well come as a shock to those who associate racism in Britain with White views of racial or ethnic superiority that an older form of discrimination within
18-month sentence for manslaughter of Pakistani man
Last week, a 17-year-old youth, Mardell Pennant, was sentenced to 18 months’ detention and training order in a young offenders’ institute after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Kamal Raza Butt in a joint enterprise with another youth, against whom charges were dropped. The murder of the Pakistani man, in July 2005, took place just
Until you fight, change never happens
In a church in Piccadilly last week, a small group of families and friends of those who have died in police custody gathered at a press conference, supported by the Bishop of Southwark, to speak about their experiences and to launch a new leaflet for the United Families and Friends Campaign. The United Families and
Racial violence round-up
We record below incidents of racial violence and harassment that have taken place in the first few months of 2006 and note the results of court proceedings against perpetrators of attacks that took place after 7 July 2005. 3 March 2006: BBC News reports that Greg Louden, a Scottish police officer, appears in a Glasgow
Overcoming Racism – Why Europe is important in the South West
A conference to discuss the use of European developments in ‘race equality’ to tackle racism in South West England. Tuesday 2 March 2006 from 2 – 5pm Black Development Agency, 5 Russell Town Square, Redfield, Bristol, BS5 9LT Speakers include: Sarah Isal – UK Race and Europe Network co-ordinator Prof Tariq Modood – Centre for
Understanding the riots in France
Excerpts from ‘France: the riots and the Republic’ an article which will be published in Race & Class, April, 2006. It is France’s Hurricane Katrina. The recent uprising (November 2005) of disenchanted youths that swept across France left parts of the country damaged and shocked. The government saw fit to invoke a state of emergency
Racial violence round-up
We record below incidents of racial violence and harassment that have taken place in the last months of 2005 and also note the results of court proceedings against perpetrators of attacks that took place after 7 July 2005. 9 January 2006: Cambridge Evening News reports that Michelle Whittaker, 20, who racially abused a young schoolboy
Anti-Gypsyism on the agenda
In Warsaw on 21 October, representatives from key international organisations held the first European conference where anti-Gypsyism was the main issue. A woman tries hard to wash a child with brown eyes and dark skin. Then, somebody hands her a pack of ARIEL washing powder. After another attempt, the child appears white and with blue
Racial violence in October
Incidents of racial violence and harassment in October. 2 November 2005: Three more people are charged in connection with the murder of Anthony Walker in Huyton, Merseyside; Paul John Morson, 25, is charged with perverting the course of justice and Robert William, 31, and Tracy Ann Garner, 34, are charged with conspiracy to assist an