Stand up to Hate Crime

Racist, Islamophobic and xenophobic hate crime has risen since the EU referendum, we heard at Conference. Racist bullying has been recorded as rising by 67%. Speakers said that the media have ‘normalised’ Islamophobia and one pointed out that the attacker at Finsbury Park mosque had been described as ‘white van man’, but should be called a terrorist.

Conference emphasised that members and the union must speak out against racism and report hate crimes. Trade unions must be at the forefront of campaigning against racism.

UNISON agreed to support the TUC march on UN anti-racism day and to carry on working with organisations such as ‘Show Racism the Red Card’, Unite Against Fascism and others to organise in our communities. A delegate from Liverpool reported how a community campaign including UNISON had seen the racist EDL chased out of Merseyside on 3 separate occasions.

Organisations you may be interested in include: