Anti Racist Network

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Saturday November 01, 2003 11:26 by Davy Carlin - W/Belfast SWP carlindavid at hotmail dot com

Report

Anti Racist Network, third meeting.

Anti-Racist Network Meeting report - (29/10/03)

Political parties, minority ethnic support organisations, persons from
NGO's, Law firm workers, Anti globalisation activists in attendence.

Report

1). Report back on statement:

The statement circulated by the network {on indymedia also} or the reasons behind it in relation to Fred Crowe made the front page of the
Irish News, was in the Ulster Newsletter, Belfast Telegraph and other media
outlets. Statement delivered personally by several organisations representatives whom are members of the Anti Racist Network (ARN) into the hands of Ulster Unionist Party leadership figures such as David Trimble, Reg Empy, Stephen King etc, with us having more than a few words to say, this at the Ulster Unionist Party
Conference last week.- Barbara was also on the Talkback Show, with myself and
Valerie doing T.V interviews at UUP conference.

After our statement circulation the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) issued a statement condemning Racist
attacks and racism as did Churches, NICVA, political parties and Craigavon
Council amongst others. Ullster Unionist Party (UUP) have now censored Fred
Crowe. ARN members suggested anti-racist training be proposed to Fred Crowe
via the UUP. So with in part a result we are to move away from the
concentration on Fred Crowe's comments and now to concentrate on the wider
picture

It was noted that Paul Murphy MP raised the issue of the increase in racism in N. Ireland in the House of Commons today, an indirect result of the ARN work and growing profile to date.

). What next? /Activity

a) It was proposed that a standard letter should be drawn up for release to
all the major political parties in N. Ireland, to confirm their
position/policies with regard to combating racism. The letter should also be
sent to all other appropriate NGOs and Trade Unions across N. Ireland.
Agreed to be done by myself

It was proposed- that a standard letter should be circulated via each of our
various networks and constituencies for futher support and endorsement, so
to let others know that the network exsists. {To be done by Valerie and
Natalie- Multi Cultural Resource Centre}

The letter will be sent around each of the members of the A.R.N. (and other
interested parties) via email for endorsement or alteration.

b) Anti-Racist Events

With regard to the organising of an anti- racist concert.

It was decided after getting advice from those of experience who host large
events that such a concert in six weeks would not be feasible which was
agreed. So it was decided that rather than this major gig being dealt with
by sub group such an event would need us all to play a role. The issue of
funding, getting bands etc will be dealt with from the Network as a whole.
We were told we could get the 'Undertones' if the event was to be well
organised and we are to attempt to get a number of local popular bands
before approaching the bigger names. Dan is also going to meet an organiser
of the ANL from London to see if the could get us big names also, as they
have a lot of contacts. And we are also to contact the 'Feile' to see if
they can point us towards a few names. So we are to work from three avenues
on this. The main concert is to take place in March during the Racism awareness
week which gives us ample time. In the meantime we are to host events for
its build up.

We then re introduced ourselves as representatives had just arrived from
Lurgan, from the Lurgan Council for Voluntary Action.


Dan, Zak {GR}, Leish {Chinese Welfare Association} Sara and possibly others
will be meeting Belfast club promoters tomorrow in the Northern Ireland
Musicians Collective (NIMC) premises above the Northern Whig in Belfast City
Centre, about the possibility of organising anti -racist gigs in clubs in
Belfast such as the Front Page and the Duke of York.----

-------------- Just got a phone call about that meeting. It went
Brilliantly. Several persons from the ARN attended the meeting with the
Belfast Promoters and I believe the ANL organiser from London. The Belfast
Promoters have agreed to facilitate gigs around N.Ireland. That's the bands
and the venues, with looking to host such concerts and gigs in the towns
that are most effected, while looking to get the support from the local
community organsaitions, poltical parties etc to work along with us. We
also have a number of Trades Union Councils from around N.Ireland who have
endorsed or sent representatives along to our meetings which we could also
get support from. We will have to though do the
mail outs, leafleting and I presume all our own publicity for these, but I
believe they can pick up momentum as they are held in various towns and
city. A fuller report of this issue will be at the next meeting

A symbolic event is to be organised for International Human Rights Day on
December 10th outside Belfast City Hall. Each organisation will do their bit
in providing photo copying of leaflets, posters etc for this event.
i). Members of the ARN are going to contact Belfast City Council about this.

ii). Contacts in Translink/Citybus will be contacted to see if they would
advertise the event (or the future anti racist concert) on Belfast City buses.

iii). Stephen {Alliance Party} and myself to think of 'title' for
the event'.

iv). As above International Anti-Racism Day is on the 21st March. It was
proposed that ARN organise a anti racist concert or series of gigs for the
week. Bands such as the Undertones can be contacted. Zak would be able to
organise some DJs to play. ---- NOTE----- with now the Promoters support,
it will be easier to get various bands.

v). Members of the ARN to find out about possible funding for the concert
from the Equality Commission or Belfast City Council.

v). NGO member organisations and solicitors of he ARN are finding out about
setting up an Independent Monitoring Body for the reporting of race-related
crime.


3). Press/Publicity

i). Logo is to be done for Press Conference for possible use in posters,
stickers, t-shirts, badges, etc. members to see what they can come up with.
Some network members are going to get schools to come up with something as
the had did similiar before, Zak will ask graffiti artist friends to try and
come up with something.

ii). 3 or 4 members of Anti Racist Network to launch ARN publicly at a press
conference. Provisional date for the conference is 19th November at 2PM.
Although several organisations were willing to put themselves forward for
the press conference it was agreed that all organisations who are
interested in attending or more importantly would like to take part in the
launch should be contacted which was agreed. So I would urge those
interested to contact Myself, Stephen or Barbara on E-Mail above.

iii). Stephen, Davy, and Barbara to contact media
network (journalists, etc.). We will also organise a media watch for any
issue that needs raised around the network, inculding all publicity good or
bad so we can circulate and if needs be deal with effectively.

4). Mailing List

i). As discussed above, standard anti racist letter to be sent to various
Northern Ireland organisations and parties. YouthNet/NICVA mailing list also
to be contacted to send out letter (list of relevant
parties/organisations).

ii). Leckan {Blackyouth network } is to establish a website
.
iii). Dan to set up separate email account for Anti racist Network (to save
Davy's inbox}


Next Meeting set for 19th November at the MultiCultural Resource Centre.