Leveson Enquiry devotes a mere three hours to media representation of women and Muslims
Marai Larasi, Jacqui Hunt, Anna Van Heeswijk and Heather Harvey gave evidence to the Leveson enquiry yesterday
The press remained relatively quiet about the goings on at the Leveson enquiry yesterday, and the journalists I usually follow for updates were not offering their live tweet services. Perhaps it had something to do with the topics of the day – the representation of women and Muslims in the media.
A modern example of police brutality and racism
By Robert Kazandjian / @RKazandjian
I mentor excluded, marginalised, vulnerable teenagers in North London. I work for an organisation that enables them to achieve educational qualifications and provides pastoral care and support.
These teenagers encounter obstacle after obstacle in their development; abuse, neglect, poverty and systems that appear destined to fail them. I’ve worked as a mentor for three years and I have no doubt that in relation to young black males, the police are an equally obstructive obstacle.
My father was a victim of racist treatment by the police when he arrived in England from Lebanon in the 1970s. I will never forget the raw anger and emotion in his voice as he described his experiences. My parents lived through the Broadwater Farm riots in the 1980s and educated me on the wider context of police racism.
The curious story of when the EDL came to Barking
The callout came late on Thursday night, I received a text message forwarded from a friend stating Steve Hedley from the RMT has called for a counter-demo to oppose the English Defence League in Barking.
UAF made a similar callout on Friday, I was surprised that staunch anti-fascists were apparently either caught unaware until short notice or decided only belatedly to hold a counter-demo. I suspect the reason was the latter. Barking & Dagenham Council, formerly the electoral stronghold of the British National Party had allowed the English Defence League to march through the Town Centre, assemble in front of the Town Hall and loudly play music in a residential area.
Over two hundred gather at steps of St Pauls to commemorate the legacy of Dr Martin Luther King
By Koos Couvee / @kooscouvee
Over two hundred people gathered at the steps of St Pauls cathedral today to celebrate the birthday of Reverend Dr Martin Luther King, commemorate his life’s work and share their views on how Dr King’s legacy is relevant today.
The event, a collaboration of community activists, church members, trade union representatives and OccupyLSX, was co-hosted by Lee Jasper.
Wednesday 25th January, 7pm: South London Anti-Fascists Group AGM 2012
Wednesday 25th January 2012, 7pm – 9pm
The Bread and Roses Pub, 68 Clapham Manor Street, SW4 6DZ
Speakers confirmed: Read more
Campaigners say: FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
Between 5.00 – 7.00 pm on Friday 9th December 2011 campaigners will assemble at Speakers Corner and make their way via Marble Arch and Oxford Street to the US Embassy London. They will be there to demand the unconditional and immediate release of Mumia Abu Jamal.
Mumia Abu-Jamal
This date marks 30 years since Mumia Abu Jamal was arrested and imprisoned in Philadelphia, USA. Accused of murdering a police officer, the journalist and former Black Panther Abu-Jamal has always stated his innocence. Following his conviction he languished on death row under a sentence which has now been ruled unconstitutional.
Video: Best response to My Tram Experience
The My Tram Experience video stirred lots of debate about multiculturalism in London, and if London really was as racist as this woman.
Though a wannabe mini-Nick Griffin applauded that troubled woman’s rants, at TMP Towers, this video has won our award of best response to the racism:
Though many regard this tragic experience as a rarity, unfortunately more videos of racist abuse on public transport have emerged including this one by a different woman who declares herself a BNP supporter.
Racism has a long history in Britain, and under the present economic environment these ideas may become more prevalent and gain more sympathy as it did in 2008.
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How Abbottgate restored white victimhood in order to brush the issue of racism under the carpet
By Koos Couvee
The media storm Hackney MP Diane Abbott caused last week as a result of her ‘divide and rule’ comment on Twitter is indicative of the ways in which Britain’s political elite is still able to turn issues of race and racism to its advantage and brush the lived reality of so many black Britons under the carpet.
When Diane Abbott tweeted: “White people love playing ‘divide & rule’ We should not play their game #tacticasoldascolonialism”, she was not referring to 19th century colonialism, which is what she later said to defend her comment. Firstly, if that were the case she would have put the sentence in the past tense. Secondly, the tweet came as part of a conversation about present day politics with Hackney based freelance journalist Bim Adewunmi, who had expressed concern to Abbott about what she perceived to be the red herring ‘black community’.
Conservative blogger Harry Cole, who at times also refers to himself as a journalist, eloquently summed up the deep pain and outrage felt by white people as a result of Abbott’s tweet in his debate with race and human rights activist Lee Jasper on Sky News. He told viewers that Abbott’s comments were derogatory to an entire ethnic group, based on the colour of their skin. Indeed, Cole pointed out, racism works both ways and should not have been used as a political tool by the opportunistic Hackney MP.
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