Friday 16 July 2021
Anti racists to protest the government who ‘stoked the flames’ of racism, and in solidarity with Rashford, Sancho & Sancho – at Downing street and across Britain:
LONDON: Demonstration in solidarity with Rashford, Sancho & Saka, assembling outside Downing Street, tomorrow, 3pm
FRI 16 JULY
Leeds here
Hackney here
SAT 17 JULY
Downing street here
Stratford here
Islington here
Selhurst here
Swansea here
Manchester here
Lancaster here
Cambridge here
Harlow here
SUN 18 JULY
Narberth here
On Saturday 17 July, Stand Up To Racism is organising major protests following events this week in the wake of the racist abuse of England players Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka & Jadon Sancho. Saturday’s upcoming events follow a wave of anti racist outrage and protest in response, including Stand Up To Racism’s hundreds-strong protest at the Marcus Rashford mural in Manchester which received across the board press coverage.
Stand Up To Racism has called a demonstration at Downing Street, with local groups holding actions in towns and cities across Britain, aiming to show solidarity with the players who carried out #TakeTheKnee action against racism throughout the tournament, and to point to the hypocrisy by Patel and Johnson, who in the words of Tyrone Mings were “stoking the fire” of racism when they criticised the anti racist action and refused to condemn the booing of #TakeTheKnee.
Anti racists are gathering to say: one year on from the #BlackLivesMatter explosions, we demand action on racism now!
Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism co convenor, said:
“After their attack on the consistent dignified, insistant and brave #TakeTheKnee action by the England team throughout the Euros2020 tournament, and after their refusal to condemn the booing of the players’ stance against racism, many anti racists will have been sickened to see the rank hypocrisy of Boris Johnson and Priti Patel. How dare they come out as if they were supporting the players and give hollow words in the wake of the disgusting racist abuse. Gary Neville is right when he says that the prime minister encouraged it. Tyrone Mings is right when he says Patel and Johnson were stoking the flames of racism.
“And they have been consistent in pushing through a raft of racist policy from the Nationality and Borders bill that attacks refugee and migrants in the most despicable way, to the policing bill that criminalises Black Lives Matter and attempts to drive entire communities out of existence with the attack on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. This government has denied the very existence of institutional racism in Britain. We must take very seriously the need to build a strong current of active anti racism in every sphere of our lives and society.
“These brilliant young men have taken a bold stand against racism, and in doing sonon the global stage, despite opposition from their own government, they have helped everyone who wants to challenge racism. The outpouring of rage at the racist abuse and heartfelt solidarity for Rashford, Sancho and Saka shows the incredible force we have to take the fight against racism in all its forms forwards.”
Sabby Dhalu, Stand Up To Racism co convenor, said:
“Attempts by Johnson and the government to whip up racism while denying its existence have hit a brick wall.
“When England footballers, many of whom experience vile racism on a daily basis, take the knee, they represent the majority of society who abhor racism and want action taken. Tyrone Mings was right to condemn Priti Patel for feigning disgust at the very abuse she helped to stoke.”
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For more information, interviews and further quotes:
info@standuptoracism.org.uk