Fortnight of ACTION

16th-31st OCTOBER 2009 TACKLING RACISM AND EXCLUSION THROUGH FOOTBALL Show Racism the RedRed Card

2

Show Racism the Red Card Scotland Fortnight of ACTION 16th-31st October 2009

discriminatory incidents, and excluding practices, remain a Tackling RACISM problem in both professional and grassroots football. We have a long way to go before the game in Scotland is fully inclusive. Promoting Inclusion In society, racism is sadly still on the rise and there has been an increase in fascist activity. In September 2008, the Scottish Government published a bulletin, which showed that the total Show Racism the Red Card’s 6th annual Fortnight of Action number of incidents recorded by the Police in Scotland were takes place from 16th - 31st October, 2009. This period of 4, 543. These statistics indicate that there are on average concerted action encourages participation from all sections of 13-recorded racist incidents every day. These figures provide Scotland’s communities to celebrate diversity and tackle an indication to the amount of racism that our BAME racism. communities are facing every day. We firmly believe that most Last year’s series of events was a great success with over 300 racist incidents go unrecorded. Irresponsible groups and media actions involving BAME organisations, community outlets continue to encourage racism against citizens from organisations, all 42 professional clubs from the SPL and the minority faiths, travellers, immigrants from EU-accession SFL, football fans, schools and young people nationwide. All ties countries, and refugees and asylum-seekers. in the 2nd round of the Scottish Cup, the SWPL, the SWFL and This year’s SRTRC Fortnight of Action provides a timely focal the SJFA all joined with us alongside the SFA’s Youth Initiative point for all those who are committed to challenging racism and and Youth Cup. discrimination in Scotland. This October, we hope to build on the success of previous years and once again expand the number and quality of anti-racist Taken from the Scottish Government bulletin projects taking place during the Fortnight. It is essential that ‘Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2007/08’. these actions act as a catalyst for further anti-racist initiatives. Since SRTRC set up office in Scotland in October 2003, thankfully we have seen a marked decrease in the number of racist incidents at football stadia. However, racist and

3

Show Racism the Red Card Scotland Fortnight of ACTION 16th-31st October 2009

FROM TOP LEFT (CLOCKWISE): Rangers FC, Hamilton Academicals FC, FC, Celtic FC and Motherwell FC red card displays

4

Show Racism the Red Card Scotland Fortnight of ACTION 16th-31st October 2009

4 the idea that any one culture or ethnic group is The Fortnight of Action superior to another as a Catalyst SRTRC Action Grants A major aim of the Fortnight of Action is to encourage anti- This year, Show Racism the Red Card are again awarding racist actions, events and initiatives to take place throughout grants of up to £1,000 for the development of community-based the year. Many organisations begin their actions during October projects that can demonstrate the following criteria: and run follow-up events during the year. There are other organisations including schools and community groups that 1 active involvement of local minority population look to the Fortnight of Action for ideas and inspirations. 2 anti-racist educational value involving young people A significant number of groups follow-up on the positive 3 partnership work with other local agencies publicity generated by the actions by developing their own 4 project must take place within the Fortnight of Action educational initiatives out-with the Fortnight. A Day of Action 5 acts as a catalyst for further anti-racist activity was held at the Aberdeen Considine Sutherland Shinty Cup throughout the year Final at Bught Park, following the model developed Racism is not based only on colour, with racism towards asylum by the SPL and SFL events. seekers, refugees, migrant workers, the Irish and English communities also occurring on a daily basis. Trevor Phillips, Acting locally chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission One proven way of making a difference is to act on a local recently warned that Britain risks becoming more racist as the level to break down barriers that lead to racist attitudes and current recession increases resentment and division. behaviour. These barriers can include: 1 racial stereotyping 2 ignorance of other cultures 3 excluding practices

5

Show Racism the Red Card Scotland Fortnight of ACTION 16th-31st October 2009

Young footballers show racism the red card at the Edinburgh Mela.

6

Show Racism the Red Card Scotland Fortnight of ACTION 16th-31st October 2009 Communities United Show Racism the Red Card will Projects outside of football endeavour to tackle racism in all its guises. But we all have a role to play If you’re not a football fan the good news is that we want to support by challenging racist attitudes on projects that do not involve football. our streets and in our workplace. Grassroots education remains the key to tackling racism in the long Our grants scheme can act as a term. SRTRC can provide schools/educationalists/community “ catalyst for long-term projects to be workers/community groups/anti-racist activist groups with a wide range developed. Our free and low cost of resources to assist facilitating anti-racism projects this October. resources can assist events and projects that are organised as part of

New educational resources the Fortnight of Action to galvanise support for our anti racist message.

Over the past year we have launched new anti-racist educational resources: With your help we can continue to make the Fortnight of Action a • Show Racism the Red Card Scotland DVD & Education Pack “ period of concerted action and This resource is Scottish specific tackle the scourge of racism that • Islamophobia & A Safe Place Double DVD & Education Pack affects our society. These UK wide resources focus specifically on Islamophobia and racism towards asylum seekers and refugees Billy Singh, Campaign Manager, • Out of Site – a Free downloadable Education Pack Show Racism The This UK wide resource tackles racism towards Gypsy, Roma and Red Card (Scotland) Traveller communities See page 27 for a list of all the resources we have available.

7

Show Racism the Red Card Scotland Fortnight of ACTION 16th-31st October 2009

Kilmarnock FC – Craig Bryson, Jim Jeffries and Kevin Kyle along with local schoolchildren. Image courtesy of Amanda Leggat 8

Show Racism the Red Card Scotland Fortnight of ACTION 16th-31st October 2009

Action Grant 2008: YMCA, The YMCA in North Glasgow held an anti-racist football tournament involving teams made up of professional referees, East Ayrshire Council are extremely sports journalists, Refugees and Asylum Seekers. This event was pleased to have entered into a 3 year very well attended with a number of public figures addressing partnership agreement with Show the group, these figures included the Justice Minister Kenny Racism the Red Card and Kilmarnock MakAskill, George Peat the President of the Scottish FA and “ Football Club. This includes 60 anti- Gordon Smith the Chief Executive of the Scottish FA. Also racist educational workshops a year attending the event was FC’s Russell Latapy and SRTRC’s delivered by Kilmarnock FC. We fully Derek Ferguson. The event received extensive media coverage. support the efforts of SRTRC and firmly

believe that education from an early age is the first steps towards making

racism a thing of the past. Work in schools with future adults is one way of tackling the scourge of racism. “

Cheryl Brady, Active