There are many ways of taking action – especially if you witness racism or see anything in media / social media / broadcasting that may feed racism.
5 Ways to Disrupt Racism
You can write to your MP to tell them how concerned you are about racism and that you want the government to act on all the recommendations from various reviews and reports. These include The McPherson Report, an outcome of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, and The Lammy Review – an independent review into the outcomes of black, Asian and minority ethnic people in the criminal justice system. You can also ask your MP to write to the Education Minister to ensure that schools are actively teaching about racism and a review of the history curriculum to include an honest account of the British Empire and colonialism as well as positive black British history.
Countering racism on social media
If you see any hateful posts / articles on Facebook alongside an advertiser you can contact #StopHateForProfit campaign
The Light On project has produced ‘Spot Racism Online: A Practical Guide’ which provides some definitions of hate speech, explains what is legal and what isn’t and provides information about how to report hate speech.
Get the Trolls Out counters hate speech and educates young people on how to spot trolls online. Their resources include guides to how to deal with trolls.
New Europeans and Stop Funding Hate have created resources including a step-by-step guide on how to report hate online and an educational resource detailing the different kinds of hate speech, how Stop Funding Hate tactics work, and what you can do take further action
Anti-fascism
Hope not Hate and Migration Exchange have set up The Response Project, which seeks to better prepare the refugee and migration sector to respond to the far-right threat publishes regular briefings. You can find them here.
Training on non violent action and having difficult conversations
We need to get better at challenging acts of racism as they arise and have the confidence to call out racism whenever we witness it.
Hope not Hate offer training for groups on having difficult conversations with people who are racist.
The Diversity Trust offer a 2 hour course on challenging racial bias and racism in practice.
The Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team in Wales provide training to anyone working with young people on challenging racism and far right extremism.
Reporting Hate Crime
In an emergency: dial 999 (if you’re reporting a crime that’s in progress or if someone is in
immediate danger)
In a non-emergency: dial 101
You can report hate crime online, using True Vision https://www.report-it.org.uk/
On public transport: call 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016
Anonymously: call CRIMESTOPPERS ON 0800 555 111
See also: Stop Hate, CST Hate Crime booklet and Ten Ways to Fight Hate Crime: Community Response Guide from an American organisation SPLC:
Waging Non Violence is an American website on non-violent action but its message is relevant anywhere. White people who are privileged can safely stand up to racism and brutality. With reference to witnessing George Floyd’s murder: “What could have happened if one witness had the training to intervene nonviolently? To step into the street and lay down next to Mr. Floyd? Would such an act of civil disobedience have created enough of a diversion to prompt former Officer Chauvin to remove his knee? What if two people had lain in the street? Or three?”
Please help us to identify other actions or organisations that can provide training to challenge racism. Email [email protected]