Motion no: 1
Conference condemns the outrageous display of racial and ethnic hatred on display in the centre of Belfast last August. An open demonstration of ignorant racist rhetoric was followed by street violence and vandalism aimed at people from ethnic or minority backgrounds, their property, residences and businesses. This took place against a backdrop of vicious attacks on people and their homes and property across Northern Ireland. Conference also condemns the spread of misinformation online and those who defend the indefensible and untrue in the name of ‘free speech’. Simply telling lies to support the violent exclusion of any group of people is not justified in any democratic society.
This movement has a long history of anti- fascism and this conference commends those who exercised that tradition in August. Counter-protests on the streets were instrumental in curtailing these visible displays of hatred, but this movement has also taken actions which are additional tools in the endless campaigning in support of reason and tolerance, such as:
• Championing the social, economic and cultural benefits of greater societal diversity;
• Recognising the essential role played by migrant workers in delivering public services and contributing to growing all sectors of our economy;
• Challenging and campaigning together with allies across civil society against many of the underlying social problems blamed for breeding racism;
• We have done this with fact-based arguments and reasonable economic solutions;
• Rejecting the scapegoating tactics of the far-right and their apologists.
• Utilising trade union education as a vital tool for workplace representatives in ensuring safe and united workplaces.
• Working with groups which represent minorities and developing their capacity to take leadership roles in civil society and in our movement.
• Making the connection with existing prejudices such as sectarianism, misogyny and anti-LGBTQI attitudes and challenging those social evils at every opportunity.
Conference commends those trade union educators and the work in recent months of the ICTU’s Anti-Racist Workplaces Project
Coordinator whose support is available for every affiliate to develop their own ambassadors in support of the true values of this movement.
Conference also seeks to reinvigorate our long-standing demands for the NI Executive, its devolved ministries and statutory agencies to:
• Deepen the impact of existing initiatives such as the Joint Declaration of Protection,
• Revitalise and deliver the long-promised Racial Equality Strategy as well as other social inclusion strategies
• Develop and enforce effective Hate Crime legislation.
The long-term work is ongoing and developing, but short—term measures are also required, such as developing our capacity to quickly and effectively respond to incidents on the streets or in workplaces, conscious of the first priority for any public manifestation – that everyone gets home safely and remains secure there, at work and on the streets
