OBV Director address at TUC rally

In one of the biggest rallies ever seen in the UK, OBV’s director, Simon Woolley was given five minutes to address the audience.

Here is his speech in full:

"This will be a day that will go down in history.

The 26th March 2011, half a million good men and women, young and old, Black and white, gay and straight, abled and disabled have come together, shoulder to shoulder hand in hand,  from around the county to say no’  No to injustice, no to inequality, no to leaving the most vulnerable in our society on their own.

Like many of you, I stand before you today not hell bent against the Government because they are Conservatives or Liberal Democrats.   We are hell bent against injustice. We would all be here without exception if the level of cuts were being undertaken by the Labour party.

What concerns 500,000 people here today and millions throughout the country is the level of Government cuts and who is most affected.  Because it ain’t the fat cats still handing themselves obscene bonuses.

I’m an activist: As such I show solidarity to the struggles of women, to gay and lesbians, to people with disability, and many others, but my focus is to tackle race inequality.

And these cuts are hitting our communities hard. We are taking a triple hit. That’s why the Black group BARAC led by my friend Lee Jasper, and Zita Holbourne have brought thousands of Black supporters here today.

Historically, Black and minority ethnic communities generally found it a little easier to find jobs in the public sector than the private sector.  As a result some 40% of BME communities are employed in public sector; that compares with 25% of the white communities, Furthermore, due to the persistent race penalty, most BME individuals are at the lower pay level. So as the cuts begin to bite who is taking a disproportionate hit? Those at the lower end of the pay scale, who just happen to be Black.

We are also taking a hit when it comes to public services too.  Like many who are just about economically strapped when those ‘sure start’ places for preschool go families find it hard to pay for child care.  The proposal to cut legal aid will also negatively affect those who are least able to pay for any legal representation.

And of course, when the funding stops for those small community groups, there goes that last line of community defence. Let me tell you this, with a small amount of money these little community groups do a fantastic amount of work, punching way above their weight. But with nothing, it is difficult to do anything for any period of time.

But I’m encouraged because you’re here. 500k warriors fighting for social and racial justice.  Warriors who don’t raise their hands in anger. We don’t need to.

We march in glory, we vote with our conscience, and we celebrate multiculturalism. Yes you heard me we celebrate it. At the heart of multiculturalism is a drive for equality, and it is equality that binds our beautiful diversity together - Multicultural Britain.

Leave today with your heads held high 500k warriors marching for justice. Marching like Dr Martin Luther King… Let me tell you Dr Martin Luther King’s looking down on Hyde park,  ‘right there is my dream’, he’ll be saying. Nelson Mandela is applauding our efforts. ‘The British people helped to free South Africa, now they are standing up for the vulnerable in their society.

Today, 26th March 2011 we came together to make history"