Kick Racism Out of Football

Right dudeos, for all of you out there who like a little bit of football on the odd occasion (or even more frequently than that), on 19th October (this Sunday) there is a 'Kick Racism Out of Football' match taking place in Stoke. Kick off is at half one, although I have just realised that I don't know where this match is actually taking place. I'll get back to you on that one... :o)

Come on in, the water's lovely.

The fascist BNP have called a rally in Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday 20th
September, which their leader Nick Griffin will attend. The BNP is not
a “respectable” political party; it is a fascist organisation that
thrives in an atmosphere of racism and bigotry – and they plan to
create that climate in the city.

NorSCARF is urging everyone opposed to the BNP to come and join with us
in the Peace and Unity Vigil this Saturday. Bring your
colleagues, friends and banners.

Assemble at 10 a.m. at NORSACA (North Staffordshire African Caribbean
Association) , Lindsay Annexe, Cannon Place, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1
4EP.

Cannon Place is just off Broad Street and Victoria Square, Hanley.
Broad Street is the main road (A5006) from Hanley to Stoke.

Look for the Victoria On The Square pub and Stratstone's Jaguar garage.
Lindsay Annexe is an old school building (just to the left of the Jaguar
garage) with a large car park in front.

The following bus services operate via Victoria Square: 21, 21A, 31, 33,
33A, 64, 94, 101, 350, X64.

It is vital that we show the strength of the anti-fascist movement in
North Staffordshire and give out the clear message that the BNP and
their message of hate are not welcome in the city. Please join us on
Saturday.

Upcoming events

Saturday 20th September 2008
Unity Carnival at Central Forest Park

Saturday 4th October 2008
Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) Rally - City-wide event with guest speakers and acts to show a positive message that the Fascist BNP are not welcome and never will be! More info to follow.

Saturday 16th October 2008
Counter demonstration in response to the BNP's plans to hold their summer get together at Codnor in Derbyshire.

A very sorry state of affairs.

I received this in an e-mail this morning. The below message was sent to the Stoke - LoveMusicHateRacism facebook group (http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15912298933).


Hi guys

Most of you may not know me...but I am an active member of the
campaign and also part of the steering group.

Just to share a personal story with you all. I've just returned from a
trip to the hospital where my brother is currently been checked over
by doctors. He was at work and was jumped and attacked by two racist
thugs early ours of this morning. He has suffered a broken nose and a
black eye, as well as marks on his neck where the attackers tried to
strangle him with a belt.

Why im telling you this? You are all members of this awesome campaign,
but how many of you are actively spreading the word and uniting people
through music and challenging racism. Just to make you all aware of
the challenges we face Stoke-on-Trent but also nationally. We need to
do more to help battle such aggressive form of racism but also
challenge any form of racism.

Please get involved in the events that are currently taking place,
firstly the carnival taking place in Central Forest Park on 20th
September but also the planned activities taking place across the City
that day to challenge racism and fascism.

Make you voice heard, and make it count!

I don't think I need to say any more on this subject, other than that, please, please, please get involved and help to prevent such attacks continue from happening to innocent members of our society.

Turns out blogging is quite fun afterall...

I thought that blogging was going to be boring, time-consuming and too difficult a challenge for me to over come. Not so. The more fun I have writing pointless and inane messages, the more *interesting* things you have to read! In theory, anyway...

Oxford Protest - November 2007

I had to put this up, it makes me laugh (that's supposed to be my serious, scary face!).

Oxford Protest - November 2007

The Guild of Students and the Jewish Society organised a coach to take students from The University of Birmingham to the Oxford Union to protest David Irving and Nick Griffin being invited to speak.

Oh, I'm supposed to be blogging regularly, am I...?!

Well, there I was, idly browsing some of the other Officers' blogs and they seem rather more comprehensive than my own. Not wanting to be outdone (and always in favour of a little healthy competition), I thought I would extend my 'blogging expertise' and type some interesting stuff, or at least attempt to.

My foot is still broken, so I am therefore still under house arrest in Sheffield. But that doesn't stop me! I'm currently compiling a questionnaire for the Religious Societies to fill in about their experience of Welcome Week. The NUS Religious Handbook* states that many welcome week fayres last year were held during the Jewish fesitval of Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and that many this year will be falling on Eid-ul-Fitr, the Muslim festival at the end of Ramadan.

Here at UoB, Guild of Students, we are committed to ensuring that everyone has the same access to Guild facilities and that religious observance should not, and will not, be a barrier to participation.

If you have any questions, please contact me on arafo@guild.bham.ac.uk. I shall endeavour to find an answer for you! Tune in next week, for the next instalment of Railly's World!


* To view this, e-mail me, as I can't figure out how to attach it here...

A period of inactivity...

As you may - or may not - know, I broke my foot this summer, and as such have not been very productive in the area of Anti-Racism, Anti-Fascism (ARAF) work.

However, that said, I am getting some work done! Currently in the early stages of re-establishing the ARAF Committee right here at the University of Birmingham, Guild of Students. I shall be operating stalls at the Change Your World fayre and the Societies' fayre trying to ARAF support and get locals registered to vote in their university constituency - yes, you can vote twice!

In addition to that, I have been working with the Women's Officer, our very own Domeneque Di Ciacca, to run some self-defence classes for the new freshers (final dates to be confirmed). I have to confess though, that is really her baby, so I can't take any credit!

I have done much more, but I'm going to save that for another time and another place. Thanks for listening. I've been Suzy Railly and you, a great audience.