Brighton & Hove UNISON Solidarity Statement
We stand with all our members that are affected by the ongoing riots and racist violence in our communities. In particular we pledge our solidarity and support to our Black, Muslim, and migrant worker members. We know this must be a time of profound anxiety, anger and hurt.
It is vital that Trade Unions and their members stand together and at the forefront of anti-fascist and anti-racist activism. This means not only standing up for their members when they experience racism or harassment – but also by modelling inclusive anti-racist practice, helping workers organise on equalities and anti-racism and showing clearly and publicly where our values lie. It also means mobilising and standing up to all forms of hate and division in our communities.
Seeing rioters deliberately set fire to hotels that house asylum seeker families, some of the most vulnerable people in our society, is horrifying. For that level of hate and murderous intent to be demonstrated on our streets is destabilising and a call for urgent action.
For too long and to our shame successive governments and some parts of our mainstream press and mainstream politicians have actively encouraged, harboured, normalised and distributed racist and hate inciting rhetoric. This normalisation (then amplified and enflamed by a largely unregulated social media industry) combined with deliberate misinformation has been a major contributor to the appalling, far-right uprising we are now experiencing. On top of this, successive governments and some parts of the mainstream press have deliberately turned workers against workers – diverting attention from policy inflicted mass poverty and instead pointing the finger of blame at impoverished and traumatised refugees and asylum seekers.
It is vital that our government see these riots for what they are, a reckoning. They must take this opportunity to turn politics away from hate and victim blaming and focus it on enacting the policies and changes needed to ensure everyone in this country has the resources and the safe environment they need to thrive and live with dignity. And politicians, media institutions and social media platforms that allow or contribute to criminal hate speech and incitement to violence must be held legally accountable.
If you are a Brighton and Hove UNISON member and need support or would like to get involved in positive activism please get in touch. You are also encouraged to attend Thursday’s Unity Rally in the Town centre, which the branch is supporting. Meet at the Clock Tower at 5.30pm.
In solidarity
Corinna Edwards-Colledge, Diana Leach, Linda Ginesi, Richard Woolven, Trevor Redmond, Matt Webb, Hannah McLean, Sue Beatty, Julie Arthur, Nikki Fabry, Andy Richards, Frances Ford, David McLean (Brighton & Hove UNISON Branch Officers, staff and case workers)
