Candidates and anti racist campaigners today received a warm reception on the streets of Glasgow as they urged Scottish voters to reject racist politics in next week’s Euro Elections.
The STUC, the mainstream political parties, and civic, faith and community groups campaigned on Glasgow’s streets with a large ballot paper to urge the electorate to vote for democracy, freedom and tolerance, and to reject the BNP.
STUC President Martin Keenan said: “The STUC is pleased to have brought together organisations representing hundreds of thousands of people from across Scotland, to show that we reject racism and fascism. The BNP has racist policies which play on people’s fears. Today we are sending a strong message to all voters, that we cannot allow apathy, or anger about MPs’ expenses to let the BNP in on 4 June”.
Euro election candidates from the Scottish Labour Party (David Martin and Catherine Stihler), the SNP (Ian Hudghton), the Scottish Conservatives (Gerald Michaluk), the Scottish LibDems (George Lyon), the Scottish Greens (Elaine Morrison), and the Scottish Socialist Party (Nick McKerrell), joined the STUC, Show Racism the Red Card, the Scottish Refugee Council, GARA and representatives from a wide range of civic, faith and community organisations.
Scottish trade unions, political, civic, community and faith organisations have signed up to the following statement to underline their opposition to racism:
“Scotland is a vibrant and diverse nation. There is no place in Scotland for politics that divide communities, promote hatred, and that whip up intolerance and violence. Scotland rejects racism and fascism”.
ENDS
Notes for editors
1. Signatories organisations to the statement include:
Black and Ethnic Minorities Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS)
Church of Scotland Church and Society Council
Engender
Equality Network
Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance
No2EU
Positive Action in Housing
Poverty Alliance
Scottish Conservative Party
Scottish Council of Jewish Communities
Scottish Green Party
Scottish-Islamic Foundation
Scottish Jews for a Just Peace
Scottish Labour Party
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish National Party
Scottish Refugee Council
Scottish Socialist Party
Scottish Trades Union Congress
Show Racism the Red Card
Unite Against Fascism Scotland
2. Photos of the event available from the STUC
kbuchanan@stuc.org.uk
Representatives from a broad range of organisations, together with the Euro election candidates participated in the photo call including:
Charles Kennedy MP
Jim Duffy – BBC Sports commentator / Manager Brechin City FC
Billy Singh – Show Racism the Red Card
Martin Keenan, President, STUC
Scottish Refugee Council
BEMIS
GARA
Scottish Jews for a Just Peace
UNISON
STUC
CWU
And more
For further information
Mary Senior 07976 515 039
Kevin Buchanan 0141 337 8100
