A seasonal reflection by leading educationalist Robin Richardson. 2014 was the year of the Trojan gift horse – equus donatus troianus – bestowed on (and gratefully received by) quite a wide range of people. In no particular order, the eager and happy recipients included: the sections of the media that prosper and profit from peddling
Theme: Employment
Patriot games and culture wars: the politics of national identity in Europe
Muslims, those of African and African-Caribbean descent and white women speaking out against racism are being targeted in a new culture war now distorting and degrading Europe’s electoral politics. Is it possible to demand a common reflex, a unified emotional response from all the citizens of a country to the symbols or cultural traditions that
Calendar of racism and resistance (28 November – 11 December 2014)
A fortnightly resource for anti-racist and social justice campaigns, highlighting key events in the UK and Europe. Policing & criminal justice 27 November: Judge Richard Hollingworth resigns as district judge after making racist comments about Asians while hearing a harassment case. He does not resign as immigration judge until a few days later. (Guardian, 7
Calendar of racism and resistance (14 – 27 November 2014)
A fortnightly resource for anti-racist and social justice campaigns, highlighting key events in the UK and Europe. Asylum seekers and refugees 14 November: It is revealed that an unnamed language analyst working for Swedish firm Sprakab, is a convicted drug smuggler whose expert reports have been used to refuse asylum to hundreds in the UK.
Inequality & broken politics in austerity Britain
A Counterfire discussion on how the left should respond to the big challenges and opportunities of modern politics. Tuesday 2 December 2014, 7.45-9.45pm Room G2, SOAS, University of London (main building), London WC1H 0XG Speakers include: Danny Dorling – author of Inequality and the 1% Lindsey German – Counterfire Liz Fekete – Institute of Race Relations Chris Bambery –
Institutional Islamophobia
An IHRC conference to examine state racism and institutional Islamophobia. Saturday 13 December 2014, 2-6.30pm Rooms MAL 414 and 415, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX Speakers include: Malia Bouattia – Black Students’ Officer at the National Union of Students Marie Breen-Smythe – University of Surrey Les Levidow – Campaign Against Criminalising Communities Richard
Calendar of racism and resistance (31 October-13 November 2014)
A fortnightly resource for anti-racist and social justice campaigns, highlighting key events in the UK and Europe. Asylum seekers and refugees 3 November: The trial of three G4S guards on charges of the manslaughter of Jimmy Mubenga, during a deportation in October 2010, begins at the Old Bailey. The court is told the guards repeatedly
Close Campsfield demonstration
A demonstration calling for the closure of Campsfield House immigration removal centre. Saturday 29 November 2014 Assemble at Exeter Hall car park, Kidlington, Oxfordshire OX5 1AB, 10:30am Demonstration at Campsfield House main gates, Langford Lane, Kidlington OX5 1RE, 12pm Related links Find more information about the event here Campaign to Close Campsfield Read an IRR News
‘A Man Standing’
A play written by former prisoner, Jean-Marc Mahy, about his experiences in solitary confinement. Friday 21 November 2014, 7.30pm Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA Related links Download a flyer here (pdf file, 55 KB) Watch a preview Interview with Jean Marc Mahy An extract from A Man Standing Book tickets Facebook event
Calendar of racism and resistance (17-30 October 2014)
A fortnightly resource for anti-racist and social justice campaigns, highlighting key events in the UK and Europe. Policing and criminal justice October: HM Inspectorate of Constabulary publishes a report: An inspection of undercover policing in England and Wales. Download it here. 17 October: The Guardian reveals the stories behind the statistics and the human toll