Black groups demand action from future Mayor!

With one in three of the electorate from the ethnic minority communities, an organised and mobilised black electorate will hold the balance of power in London on May 4th.

All the Mayoral candidates have confirmed their attendance for The Voice debate, supported by OBV and the CRE. President Clinton Special appointee and former Mayor of Oakland, Elihu Harris, will be the International guest speaker.

The meeting: Tuesday 18th April 2000, 6.30pm Westminster Council House, Marylebone Rd , NW1.

This meeting is one in a series of events being organised by OBV to encourage and inspire London's black communities for the elections on 4th May. Mr Elihu Harris's itinerary for OBV will also include touring community centres in Brixton and Tottenham, and an American Embassy Reception. Mr Harris states: 'It's a great pleasure to be part of this crucial debate. As a Mayor I have had to run a large and dynamic multi-cultural city. I know what's required to ensure that all communities have a voice in a city's democratic process.'

Simon Woolley from OBV states: 'With one in three voters from the Black communities, these elections offer a unique opportunity for our communities to set a positive agenda. Together we can ensure that unemployment, regeneration and a police-force - that works for us and not against us - are the Mayor's priorities.'

Panellists include: Frank Dobson, Ken Livingstone, Steve Norris, Susan Kramer, Ram Gidoomal, and keynote speaker Elihu Harris.

Notes to the editor

The London elections are on May 4th 2000. One third of the capital's population are Black. This figure is projected to rise to 40% by 2004 according to Home Office figures.Elihu Harris was a two-term Mayor of Oakland, California, US. He is also special advisor to the Governor of California.