Tyneside Community Action for Refugees (TCAR) invites all progressive organisations and individuals to support the 2nd Northern March Against Racism this coming Saturday 25th October. The march will assemble at the Old Fire Station on Westgate Road at 12noon. We will march through the West End to the city centre and there will be a public meeting in the open air at Grey's Monument from 1pm.
flyer for the march
We wrote last week ''The aim of the march is to stand united against racism in its many forms, which is particularly important at a time of economic crisis, when racism is used to divide sections of the working classes struggle against deteriorating living conditions or to divert these struggles from even beginning'
Since then the new immigration minister has been giving a good example of what we mean. Here's an extract from an article in the Time on 18 October:
“I've been brought in to be tougher and to change perceptions,” he says. The Government must, he insists, face up to voters' concerns about the level of immigration - particularly as a recession looms. The economic downturn changes everything, he says. “Clearly if people are being made unemployed, then the question of immigration becomes extremely thorny.”
Employers should, he believes, put British people first, or they will risk fuelling racism. “In times of economic difficulties, racial stereotyping becomes stronger but also if you've got skills shortages you should, as a government, attempt to fill those skills shortages with your indigenous population.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4965568.ece
And so it begins. But this is just the beginning. It will get worse as the economy gets worse. More and more, racism will be used as an excuse to justify a capitalist system that cannot meet the needs of both rich and poor. The rich do not want to lose any of their profits and so the poor will be made to pay. We need to stand up against racism NOW and demand decent living conditions for everybody.
A Decent Life for All! You will not divide us. Together we are stronger!
Meet 12 noon at Old Fire Station on West Road opposite Barclays bank.
March to Grey’s Monument where a
Public meeting starts at 1pm at Monument.
Speakers confirmed so far from: Tyneside Community Action for Refugees, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!/ Revolutionary Communist Group, Youth Against Racism in Europe , Borderline books, Amnesty International, UDPS Newcastle branch.
More information:
In the last 12 months in the UK the cost of rice has gone up 110%, pasta, milk, bread and meat has gone up by 27%. Inflation has risen to 4.4%.
This is a global issue: since the beginning of 2008, 37 countries have had street protests and riots in response to spiralling food prices. Demonstrations have taken place in countries as far apart as Mauritania , Egypt , Cote d'Ivoire , Cameroon , Mozambique and Senegal in Africa, Uzbekistan , Indonesia and Yemen in Asia, Haiti and Bolivia in South America.
In the UK public sector workers have recently been on strike against wage cuts in relation to inflation. People on benefits do not have the right to strike, whether they are asylum seekers, people on Job Seekers Allowance, Incapacity or other benefits. However, benefit increases are not in line with inflation and so the poorest sections of society are being hit hardest by economic problems.
Most asylum seekers have had the right to work taken from them by the Labour Government and so they are forced to live on benefits, sometimes in the form of inappropriate food vouchers. Many asylum seekers are being forced into destitution if they refuse to go back to so called 'safe' countries like Iraq .
There are many examples of how the Government is dividing working class people. Asylum seekers have been denied the right to work, a basic human right under article 23 of the UN Declaration. Asylum seekers used to be housed in council housing like British people, but now they are housed in a different system, whereby private companies like Angel Group are profiting from housing asylum seekers in totally substandard accommodation. In some cases, people who complain about their living conditions are forcibly relocated to a new city . British people have to sign for their benefits in job centres, but asylum seekers sign at immigration reporting centres. These are all ways in which we are divided and where divisions exist, racism can flourish.
In TCAR we understand that the problems of rising living costs, bad quality housing, homelessness, pay and benefit shortages are common struggles for many in the UK and world today. This is why TCAR is inviting all progressive individuals and organisations to join us on this march against racism, against these divisions and for a decent life for all! They will not divide us! Together we are stronger!
In order for this march to be successful we need your support. We invite you to join us on the march with a delegation. You would be welcome to bring a stall with literature for the street meeting at Grey’s Monument. We are also keen to draw up a list of confirmed speakers for the platform at the public meeting.
Financial contributions towards the costs of the march will be greatly appreciated, as TCAR is entirely un-funded. Cheques can be made payable to ‘Tyneside Community Action for Refugees’ and sent to:
TCAR c/o St Thomas' Church, St Mary's Place , Haymarket, Newcastle NE1 7PF
TYNESIDE COMMUNITY ACTION FOR REFUGEES (TCAR)
You will not divide us. Together we are stronger!
tynesidecarn@yahoo.co.uk | 07504174530
Since then the new immigration minister has been giving a good example of what we mean. Here's an extract from an article in the Time on 18 October:
“I've been brought in to be tougher and to change perceptions,” he says. The Government must, he insists, face up to voters' concerns about the level of immigration - particularly as a recession looms. The economic downturn changes everything, he says. “Clearly if people are being made unemployed, then the question of immigration becomes extremely thorny.”
Employers should, he believes, put British people first, or they will risk fuelling racism. “In times of economic difficulties, racial stereotyping becomes stronger but also if you've got skills shortages you should, as a government, attempt to fill those skills shortages with your indigenous population.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4965568.ece And so it begins. But this is just the beginning. It will get worse as the economy gets worse. More and more, racism will be used as an excuse to justify a capitalist system that cannot meet the needs of both rich and poor. The rich do not want to lose any of their profits and so the poor will be made to pay. We need to stand up against racism NOW and demand decent living conditions for everybody.
A Decent Life for All! You will not divide us. Together we are stronger!
Meet 12 noon at Old Fire Station on West Road opposite Barclays bank.
March to Grey’s Monument where a
Public meeting starts at 1pm at Monument.
Speakers confirmed so far from: Tyneside Community Action for Refugees, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!/ Revolutionary Communist Group, Youth Against Racism in Europe , Borderline books, Amnesty International, UDPS Newcastle branch.
More information:
In the last 12 months in the UK the cost of rice has gone up 110%, pasta, milk, bread and meat has gone up by 27%. Inflation has risen to 4.4%.
This is a global issue: since the beginning of 2008, 37 countries have had street protests and riots in response to spiralling food prices. Demonstrations have taken place in countries as far apart as Mauritania , Egypt , Cote d'Ivoire , Cameroon , Mozambique and Senegal in Africa, Uzbekistan , Indonesia and Yemen in Asia, Haiti and Bolivia in South America.
In the UK public sector workers have recently been on strike against wage cuts in relation to inflation. People on benefits do not have the right to strike, whether they are asylum seekers, people on Job Seekers Allowance, Incapacity or other benefits. However, benefit increases are not in line with inflation and so the poorest sections of society are being hit hardest by economic problems.
Most asylum seekers have had the right to work taken from them by the Labour Government and so they are forced to live on benefits, sometimes in the form of inappropriate food vouchers. Many asylum seekers are being forced into destitution if they refuse to go back to so called 'safe' countries like Iraq .
There are many examples of how the Government is dividing working class people. Asylum seekers have been denied the right to work, a basic human right under article 23 of the UN Declaration. Asylum seekers used to be housed in council housing like British people, but now they are housed in a different system, whereby private companies like Angel Group are profiting from housing asylum seekers in totally substandard accommodation. In some cases, people who complain about their living conditions are forcibly relocated to a new city . British people have to sign for their benefits in job centres, but asylum seekers sign at immigration reporting centres. These are all ways in which we are divided and where divisions exist, racism can flourish.
In TCAR we understand that the problems of rising living costs, bad quality housing, homelessness, pay and benefit shortages are common struggles for many in the UK and world today. This is why TCAR is inviting all progressive individuals and organisations to join us on this march against racism, against these divisions and for a decent life for all! They will not divide us! Together we are stronger!
In order for this march to be successful we need your support. We invite you to join us on the march with a delegation. You would be welcome to bring a stall with literature for the street meeting at Grey’s Monument. We are also keen to draw up a list of confirmed speakers for the platform at the public meeting.
Financial contributions towards the costs of the march will be greatly appreciated, as TCAR is entirely un-funded. Cheques can be made payable to ‘Tyneside Community Action for Refugees’ and sent to:
TCAR c/o St Thomas' Church, St Mary's Place , Haymarket, Newcastle NE1 7PF
TYNESIDE COMMUNITY ACTION FOR REFUGEES (TCAR)
You will not divide us. Together we are stronger!
tynesidecarn@yahoo.co.uk | 07504174530 
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