ANTI-IRISH racism was opposed by a range of speakers who took to the stand at a rally to mark the United Nations’ international Anti-Racism Day in London over the weekend.
Campaigner Austin Harney, Chair of CRAIC (Campaign for the Rights and Actions of Irish Communities) and Race Relations Secretary for the South East Region TUC, was among the Irish contingent in attendance for the event in Parliament Square.
“There were many mentions of anti-Irish racism on the day,” he told The Irish Post, “not least by [TUC President] Gloria Mills, who praised the Irish government of 1996 in ensuring a proper European Union Directive that protects millions of different ethnicities from official discrimination.”
He added: “Also, special thanks goes to campaigner Zita Holbourne, who denounced Jeremy Clarkson for his alleged act of anti-Irish racism against a work colleague, and Owen Jones and George Galloway in condemning more generally the racist discrimination that still exists against the Irish community in Britain.”
MP Diane Abbott, author Owen Jones and Green Party leader Natalie Bennett were among dozens of speakers who came out to address those gathered for the afternoon rally, held on Saturday, March 21.
Organised by the Stand Up to Racism and Fascism group in London, a similar event was also held in Glasgow.
