News

At a packed Westminster venue, Communities for Europe was launched on Wednesday evening. The project promotes the value of the United Kingdom remaining within the European Union. It is an initiative of the European Movement UK, a grass-roots, non partisan organisation, working to give a voice to those who believe that Britain’s future lies side by side with our European partners.

Gerry Adams, leader of Irish Republican Party Sinn Féin, was denied entry to the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration hosted by President Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday. A security issue caused the Secret Service to prevent Adams from entering the White House for an hour and a half before he left. The Secret Service later apologized on Wednesday claiming there was an administrative error, according to CNN.

Over a year ago the Guardian reported that BME youth unemployment had risen almost 50% in five years according to data from the House of Commons Library. Historically BME unemployment rates have always been higher than the rate of White unemployment. But diversity has been proven to have a positive effect on business.

The new 2016 budget cuts proposed by Chancellor George Osborne will negatively affect the lives of BME women in the UK according to an article published in the Guardian today.

The article describes how these cuts will potentially close BME specific services that aim to protect women from domestic violence. With rising numbers of violent crimes against women many women’s groups and BME organisations have protested against the budget cuts to services.

Royal Ballet soloist Eric Underwood interviewed with BBC magazine about the struggle black dancers face in the ballet industry that is historically predominantly white and has so far refused to accommodate darker skin tones.

Ballet stores sell flesh-coloured shoes in beige, pink, and “nude” tones but usually have no options for darker skin. Underwood told BBC, "Instead I have to 'pancake' my shoes with make-up before I can go on stage," a messy, expensive and frustrating process that inconveniences most non-white dancers.  

Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick came to London to talk with professors, journalists, activists, and education professionals at the OBV organised event “Educating Leadership: A conversation with Dr. Frederick, from Howard University” Monday afternoon in Portcullis House at Westminster. Chaired by OBV Director Simon Wooley the discussion centred on the future generation of leaders from BME backgrounds and encouraging BME youth with education and support.

D. Peter Herbert O.B.E put forward a suit against the Ministry of Justice, Judicial Conduct Investigating Office yesterday after he was accused of misconduct for criticising the Judiciary’s racism.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/the-sun-argues-queen-stati...

By and large, the world’s media have been pretty kind to the tennis ‘darling’ Maria Sharapova on the news that she failed a drugs test last month by using a banned substance.

Operation Black Vote Director Simon Woolley, joined others including Michael Sani-Bite the Ballot, Nicola Dandridge-Universities UK, and Anna Smee in signing a letter from MP Gloria De Piero, the Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration, sent to Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday impelling him to take action on decreasing voter registration among young people.