Friends at ‘United We Stand’ conference
Quakers were among those at a recent conference
Friends were present at a one-day conference in Wales designed to bring together organisations working with diverse communities in Wales to help create a united stance.
The well-attended ‘United We Stand’ conference was presented on 21 March by Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team (EYST), the Swansea-based charity supporting black, Asian and minority ethic (BAME) people across Wales, and Race Alliance Wales. Speakers included Labour AM Jane Hutt, deputy minister and chief whip in the Welsh government, who announced potential funding for work in these areas. Peter Hussey, from Llandrindod Wells Meeting, who attended the event, said the 21 March ‘became the reference point for the world’s assessment of the apartheid government in South Africa, it being the anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre which occurred in 1960 after a day of demonstrations against pass laws. Six years later, the UN declared 21 March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’.
He said the day celebrated ‘unity’ but was overshadowed by the terror attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, which had left fifty Muslims dead only six days before. Writing on the Southern Marches Area Meeting website, he said: ‘There are many ways in which life for BAME families is improving in Wales but, particularly since the calling of the Brexit referendum, instances of hate crime and abuse have increased in Wales, as in other Western countries.’
He quoted figures that anti-Muslim hate crimes reported across Britain increased by 593 per cent in the week after the Christchurch shootings.
He added: ‘There was little doubt among the attendees at the conference that the Brexit process, along with the “hostile environment” created by the Home Office… are both contributory causes to attacks on immigrants generally, but these attacks also specifically demonstrate hatred of Muslims and, through ignorant association, Sikhs and Hindus… The point was made that fear of immigrants is not being demonstrated by the “left behind” citizens but rather by those with moderate income.’
