National Civil Rights Movement

PRESS RELEASE: Embargo - 25th May 01

 

LAWRENCE CAMPAIGNERS TO SPEAK IN LEICESTER, TOMORROW SATURDAY 26TH MAY, TO SUPPORT ASYLUM SEEKERS AND FAMILIES SUFFERING RACISM

 

Press conference: 1.15 to 2pm: at Highfields Youth and Community Centre, Melbourne Road, Highfields.  Please contact Priya Thamotheram to confirm attendance on 0116 253 1053 or email Priya@hycc.ac.uk

 

With Imran Khan, Michael Mansfield, Walcott Hill, Vaffador Khalegi, Suresh Grover, Maryam Namazie, Imtiaz Mubarek and Priya Thamotheram

 

In the run up to the General Election, National Political parties have fuelled racism that has led to a dramatic increase in race attacks. The police now admit a recording of over 300% increase in racial harassment following William Hague's speech on British identity.  Beyond the political spin and sound bites of race and asylum issues there are real life stories of individuals and families in Leicester who are demanding the right to live in safety and to contribute their skills and experiences to the local communities.  Their voices are rarely heard.

 

Leicester Civil Rights Movement, a local group set up to support asylum seekers and local families who have experienced racism and miscarriages of justice will be hosting a national conference titled Building a United Future on Saturday 26 May 2001 at Highfields Youth and Community Centre. The Conference starts at 10am and finishes at 6.30pm.

 

An initiative of the National Civil Rights Movement, an organisation that grew out of the Stephen Lawrence Campaign, the event will present an opportunity for people from around the country to share their experiences of racism and local campaigns against injustice and to set an agenda for change.  Local asylum seekers and families surviving racism will be key speakers.

 

National and local speakers including Suresh Grover, Imran Khan, Michael Mansfield QC, Gareth Peirce, Maryam Namazie and Vanessa Redgrave will address a public rally to take the issues forward in the run-up to the General Election at Highfields Youth and Community Centre.

 

According to Priya Thamotheram, Chair of Leicester Civil Rights Movement, 'It is very positive that this conference is being hosted in Leicester.  Asylum seekers and families who have experienced injustice are at the heart of Leicester Civil Rights Movement.  In just eight months, we have actively campaigned for improvements to services for local asylum seekers and provided legal support to local families who have experienced injustice as a result of racism.'

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* On Saturday, May 26, 2001, The National Civil Rights Movement is holding an all-day Spring Conference entitled: 'Building a United Future' at Highfields Youth and Community Centre, 96 Melbourne Road, Leicester LE2 ODS, UK.

 

The conference includes panels and sessions on the following:

 

Plenary: Post McPhearson Racism and Resistance with Suresh Grover, Imran Khan, Maxie Hayles, Jon McKenzie, Maryam Namazie and Gareth Pierce.

 

Group Discussions: Setting out our Priorities - Britain's colour bars - prisons and racism; Supporting new arrivals: Fighting racism against asylum seekers; post-Macpherson: paradise or nightmare; earning no lessons, racism in schools and education

 

Public rally: Mike Mansfield, Arun Kundnani, Maryam Namazie, Vanessa Redgrave, Arlington Trotman and Christine Blower.  Testimonies from family campaigns

 

An evening of comedy, food, poetry and music

 

For more information and to book places, visit the website at: http://www.ncrm.org.uk/conference or contact: Halima Mohamed, National Civil Rights Movement, Tel: 020 8574 0818 / 020 8843 2333, Fax: 020 8813 9734, E-mail: info@ncrm.org.uk.