‘Absolute zero tolerance on racism’

Unite members from across the UK took part today (October 22) in Wear Red Day – the educational charity Show Racism the Red Card’s (SRtRC) national day of action.

The charity has called on all of its supporters to wear red and donate to the organisation to support its anti-racism educational training in schools and workplaces across the UK.

SRtRC was formed in 1996 to use football role models to enlist young people in anti-racism drives. Previous stars on the SRtRC team sheet include Thierry Henry, Ryan Giggs and Samuel Eto’o.

The charity goes out into communities, classrooms and football clubs and educates roughly 50,000 schoolchildren each year in England, Wales and Scotland about racism.

The charity’s work has never been more important than now – as the Black Lives Matter movement has gained momentum, sadly so too have racist incidents across the UK. The shocking online racism targeted against black England football team players in the Euro 2020 Final is only one example of many.

Pictured is Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, wearing red at this week’s Unite’s policy conference delegates. Sharon told UNITElive, “It’s astounding that the hideous hatred of racism is still out there, blighting the lives of our BAEM members, and causing them so much pain.

“Unite has long been proud to be involved with the great work of Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC) – for its anti-racist actions on the football pitch, for BAEM workers everywhere and across our communities. Unite has an absolute zero tolerance on racism, like SRtRC and we will not rest until all forms of this insidious hatred is removed from our sports fields, our communities and moreover our workplaces.

“So wear red today and help us to stand shoulder to shoulder with our BAEM members in the struggle against predjudice, ignorance and bigotry,” she added.

Commenting on Wear Red Day, Show Racism the Red Card’s chief executive Ged Grebby said, “2020 is behind us and we are a different people in this new year. We are stronger than ever before because we have come together in our common purpose – the advancement of the anti-racism movement. At its core is education.

“From the worst comes our best,” he added. “The brutal world altering events of last summer pushed us to the front of the agenda and people started to speak meaningfully. These cannot become forgotten conversations. Without momentum there is no progression. Without learning the advantage is lost. Lives should not be ruined by racism.

“Join us this Wear Red Day to add your support to the cause and your voice to the choir. We will not be silenced.”

Taking part in Wear Red Day to show your opposition to racism is easy – just take a selfie of you and your family, friends and colleagues wearing red and post your pictures on social media using the hashtag #WRD21. Then you can donate to Show Racism the Red Card – find out more here.

By UniteLive team

Pics by Mark Thomas