PCS National Black Members' Committee statement on Far Right protests
The statement sends love and support to those caught up in the recent tragedy and violence, and stands firm against hatred.
We start this statement by offering our love and condolences to the families of the three beautiful children, Bebe King, aged 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, aged 9 and all those injured in Southport.
At a time when the nation should be coming together to show love and solidarity to the victims and their families, we have seen their tragedy being hijacked by far-right extremists who have engaged in violence and bigotry. PCS stands against this thuggery, and we stand with all those that are feeling fearful and scared.
We encourage members to read the initial statement of condemnation from the general secretary Fran Heathcote and president Martin Cavanagh condemning the violence as it began in Southport last week. It is important to know the initial statement was about the Southport events, but attacks have escalated rapidly, and events were fast-moving over the weekend in areas outside of Southport.
The continued support of members from our general secretary and president can be seen in the statement issued yesterday (5).
PCS has also reissued our guidance on the Anti-Racist, Anti-Fascist (ARAF) Campaign. In addition, PCS has been part of an emergency meeting held by the TUC addressing the issue on Friday and will be meeting again this week. Further information will be provided on our website.
For our members who have suffered racism we urge you to report it via the PCS Union racial incident helpline (020 7801 2678). It is staffed during regular office hours (9am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays, excluding bank holidays).
Our union has been at the forefront of defeating the far right and that’s why we are proud to be affiliated to Stand up to Racism. The weekend saw an escalation across the UK of incidents of Islamophobia and racism, targeting places of worship, community centres, shops and hotels, physical attacks, arson and intimidation.
Our Black and Asian members, Muslims members, those from migrant communities will be worried about their safety and those of their families. The national black members' committee is working closely with colleagues to ensure that the union is ready to support all our members wherever they are. Many of our members will be particularly concerned about potential threats, including commuting in affected areas, travelling home after working late and could encounter protests or further rioting on the way home, and potentially being forced to attend the office when they feel unsafe.
We have asked all PCS groups to raise these concerns with their employers to ensure that every step is taken to protect our members and the wider community. We will continue to monitor events and will issue further updates.
Our movement is committed to an anti-racism agenda, we condemn the violence, we condemn those that created this cesspit of acceptable racism and Islamophobia in our politics and media; you can never pacify the far right, we need to unite to defeat them wherever they raise their ugly head.
To the British Muslim community, to the Black community, to the Asian community we send our solidarity and love during these horrific violent times; we have always stood against Islamophobia and racism, and we stand with you.
We are deeply concerned at the unacceptable racist messages from some civil servants on social media, this must stop, and we will take action to report this racism through the civil service. There should be zero tolerance for any racism either in work or in the community.
We will root out racism and defeat the far right as we have done in the past and will do again. Through unity and strength, we will see the far right be defeated.
Mohammed Shafiq, chair of the national black members' committee and Tracey Hylton, vice chair.