News

Black groups in Bristol are in uproar over the race-disparaging comments made by a Labour Councillor against the country’s first directly elected Mayor from an African/Caribbean background, Marvin Rees, and his Deputy Asher Craig who is also from African/ Caribbean heritage.

Speaking on social media, Cllr Harriet Bradley commented: ‘Wish I was Mayor! I like Marvin but I am honestly not sure if he gets socialism. His background-like that of Asher Craig his deputy –is in diversity politics.’

At an East India Club event in London yesterday, Anne Marie Morris, the Conservative MP for Newton Abbot, casually used the N-word during a discussion of Brexit, which led to the eventual removal of her party whip.

While taking part in a public panel along with other Pro-Brexit Conservative MPs, Sir William Cash and John Redwood, Morris used the offensive language while talking about the possibility of having no Brexit deal after the two years of negotiations.

Introducing Abigail Kass

Abigail Kass is a political science student from Boston University and  has recently joined OBV on our international intern programme. She has been assisting the team with our MP Shadowing scheme recruitment, and has now written her first article for us, highlighting the rise of racism in schools post Brexit. We look forward to many more insightful articles, and assisting us with our campaign work.

Ibrahim X Kendi has taken America by storm with his new book. 'Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America.'

And now based on that book he’s written the ‘Long Read’ article in the Guardian explaining some of his thoughts. Some of his ideas both in the article, book and other articles he’s written are challenging to say the least, but at the same time his work is illuminating, and wonderfully empowering.

The inquest into Sarah Reed’s death begins on today . Tues 4th July- She was found dead in her cell in Holloway prison in London in January 2016 and her relatives will be expecting answers on the level of care she received and her wider treatment by public authorities. In 2012 Sarah was the victim of an assault by a police officer, an experience which aggravated her mental health issues.

Campaigners in Brighton are calling for the immediate reinstatement of race campaigner Vivienne Lyfar-Cisse.

As activists I and my OBV colleagues were filled with great pride watching the first Prime Minister’s Question time of this new Parliament.  For there sat proudly on Her Majesty’s green benches representing the people of Slough and Battersea two OBV alumni, now MP’s: Tan Dhesi and Marsh De Cordova.

If the Government are trying to build confidence with families of those who perished in Grenfell Tower,  survivors and communities,   could they  have done a worse job by appointing Sir Martin Moore-Bick?

Two elements that mark out the Grenfell disaster: one often spoke about -class, and the other completely ignored - race.

In an act of supreme bravery and courage the Finsbury Park Mosque Imam Mr Mahmoud probably saved the life of the suspected terrorist who mowed down Muslim worshippers who were leaving the Finsbury Park Mosque last night. Reports tell of one person who is dead , and others very seriously injured when a van, driven at speed targeted Muslims coming from the Mosque.