Issue 153
Students at the 2004 march against racism
Students' Union set to march against racism
26th February 2007
A march against racism will be held on Tuesday 20 March by Swansea students as a result of increased coverage of racist incidents in the media.
Designed to coincide with elimination of racial discrimination day, the march will take place along the beachside promenade and will then go over the road bridge and then into the university where speakers will address the crowd. A gig organised by Love music, Hate racism, the music organisation that works alongside the Anti-Nazi league, will be providing a music gig on the night to be held in Sin City.
In the last month racist remarks have been made in two reality television shows, Big Brother and Shipwrecked. Before the row over the comments made by Big Brother star, Jade Goody, had settled, Lucy Buchanan, a contestant on Shipwrecked, another Channel Four reality show, was broadcast making more racist remarks in relation to the slave trade.
The last protest against racism in Swansea went ahead in 2004 in reaction to the racist murder of a Kurdish Iraqi man. The same year also saw an increase in racist graffiti around the city which led to the city's council redoubling its efforts with its graffiti removal team.
Student International Officer, Kylie Bartelli, is the chief organiser of the march with the Multi Cultural Society providing the speakers.
Members of the armed forces are expected to make clear their objection to racism at the march, in order to enhance their recruitment drive. The British Forces have been working under strength for at least 15 years and enlistment numbers have been even worse since the start of the insurgency in Iraq, the deaths at Deepcut barracks and the revelations of the declining conditions of soldiers in Britain.
Kylie Bartelli said, "I have decided to put on this march because of the problems that have arisen in the Big Brother house, on the Shipwrecked program and in the media generally.
"Even without the racism incidents that have been shown in the media recently, racism is still a problem in Britain today and we need to raise awareness about the way it is affecting the student community and society in general.
"I think that racism is unacceptable and that ignorance is no excuse. I would like as much involvement with this march as possible. It is an excellent opportunity for people to stick up for their beliefs, meet likeminded people and have a good time in the process."
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