2 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Race Council Cymru on racial justice five years after Newport protest
Five years ago today, on the 11th of June 2020, more than a thousand people gathered in Newport to support the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, joining the millions worldwide standing against racial inequality.
At the time, the Black Lives Matter movement, whilst not a new movement, had gained a substantial amount of momentum internationally following the death of George Floyd in the US.
Race Council Cymru (RCC), work with key organisations in Wales to combat racial inequality, recall that point in time as a turning point, not only around the world but within Wales.
'People took to the streets, to screens, to classrooms, and to their hearts to say: enough is enough,' they explained.
In Newport, a city known for its cultural diversity, people came together in protest against racial inequality, raising placards, kneeling in silence, and pledging to be part of the change.
At the time, the world was amid a global pandemic, and there were concerns surrounding public gatherings.
Nevertheless, supporters of the movement left the safety of their homes anyway, sending a powerful message.
Various protests took place throughout Wales, sparking important conversations about racism, about the systems we live under and about racial inequality in Wales.
In the five years since, Wales has seen many significant changes which seek to ensure racial equality.
In 2022, the Welsh Government launched an Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, with the ambition of creating an anti-racist nation by the year 2030.
Wales is also said to be the first UK nation to make the teaching of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic histories mandatory in schools, recognising that Black history is Welsh history.
Nevertheless, Race Council Cymru highlights that positive progress has not erased racial inequality in Wales.
'There is progress. But there is also pain. While the conversation around race has evolved, racism has not disappeared,' they said.
'Hate crime in Wales remains a serious concern,' they added. Reminding the public to recognise the human being behind each crime statistic.
As the years pass since the BLM protests, organisations such as Race Council Cymru continue to push for racial equality in Wales.
'We cannot and will not allow racism to go unchallenged. Not in our streets. Not in our institutions. Not in our silence,' they declared.
Race Council Cymru invited everyone to take a stand, saying: 'Use your voice. Support our work. Speak up when you see injustice. Teach your children about the value of every human life.'
'Let's build a Wales where every person, regardless of race, background or belief, feels safe, respected, and heard,' they said.
