Trade Unions and activists prepare for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

This weekend you’re likely to see a significant amount of support from Trade Unions, activist groups and individuals both in the UK and abroad to mark the UN’s Anti Racism Day.

A joint statement released earlier this week from Stand Up to Racism and the Trade Union Congress optimised the mentality with which leading organisations are approaching the day. They reflected on the events of the last year as having brought the fight against racial inequality ‘back into the spotlight’.

“…despite the pandemic, it is essential that we mark the UN day against racism in 2021 to highlight the institutional and structural racism that is still endemic in our society. The murder of George Floyd and the disproportionate number of black deaths as a result of the Covid pandemic has brought the fight against racial inequality back into the spotlight.

“......Now more than ever we need to highlight the fact the UK has international obligations to tackle racism and xenophobia and make an important public statement that trade unions and other organisations are at the forefront of opposing racism and xenophobia.”

Their action plan for the day includes work around online engagement to place the anti-racism agenda at the forefront of everyone's minds. It involves people taking the knee and sharing their images and videos of the act to help create a ‘Twitter storm’.

This is followed by an ‘online rally’ featuring speakers representing communities from around the world helping to push the aims of the day. All of this will be taking place tomorrow and will be amplified by Peace One Day’s Anti-Racism Live Global Digital Experience.

The Peace One Day event takes place on March 21 - the official International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The UN’s choice of March 21 is not without meaning.

It was chosen to align with and remember the Sharpeville massacre that occurred in South Africa in 1960. Almost two decades later, it was decided by the UN General Assembly that the date would bookmark the start of a ‘week of solidarity’ for all those facing racism and discrimination.

As the TUC and the Stand Up to Racism statement made clear, 2020 proved to be the catalyst for widespread attention to be drawn back to the inequalities which still plague society. Both here and elsewhere, we will continue to highlight it long after the week.

There’s still time to register for the Peace One Day event taking place on March 21. To do so, click here.

Mayowa Ayodele

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