ANTI-RACISM activists behind the Black Lives Matter organisation in Newport have put forward a series of recommendations to address racial inequality in Wales.

BLM Newport joined with other Black Lives Matter groups from around the nation to submit a manifesto-style statement to the Welsh Government, building on the popular support the movement received at a series of protests and marches held around Wales last month.

Their aims include calls for improved anti-racism policies in schools, racial bias training for all public servants, and permanent exhibitions in Wales' major museums to celebrate the nation's BAME (black, Asian, and minority-ethnic) history.

"This document hopefully grounds and begins to put into words what we are expecting from the Welsh Government and what we would like to see, not only in the short-term but also in the long-term," Andrew Ogun, who organised the June 11 BLM march in Newport, said.

The most recent wave of Black Lives Matter protests began in the United States following the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd – a black man – in police custody.

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On the Newport march, Mr Ogun said: "Of course we were there to protest the killing of George Floyd in America at the hands of police brutality, but more so than that we were there to protest the wider systemic racism that we are all trying to dismantle."

Here's what BLM Newport has called on the Welsh Government to do:

1.CULTURAL INTEGRATION

We believe that the Welsh Government should publicly encourage and support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic organisations to organise culturally relevant events in accordance with the law and local policy.

This kind of support expressed by the Welsh Government will encourage cultural integration, introducing those to the different cultures that contribute to the Welsh identity. This is also a direct action against the UK Home Office’s Hostile Environment policy.

2.HERITAGE

It is an absolute necessity that museums across Wales safeguard the history and archival heritage of BAME communities in Wales.

We request permanent exhibitions on the heritage and history of BAME communities in pre-existing museums in Wales such as:

Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum of Wales

Saint Fagans Natural History Museum

Swansea Museum

National Waterfront Museum.

We submit that the Welsh Government should commission a public inquiry into why the Public Sector Equality Duty has not been upheld in museums across Wales. The report should address how many, and the nature of, BAME exhibitions the have been displayed in Wales in the last 100 years.

We encourage the Welsh Government to actively document Black stories through the creation of exhibitions and events.

3.ASSEMBLY

We submit that it is in the public interest that the Welsh Government create a national BAME citizens assembly with young people (25 and under) at its core. This citizens assembly will work together with the Welsh Government to foster and encourage an authentic dialogue between policymakers and the general public. Furthermore, this citizens assembly should be tasked with ensuring that the interests of BAME communities in Wales are always considered and upheld.

4.EDUCATION

We propose that the Welsh Government commit to ensuring an accurate and authentic representations of the contributions of Black people and other ethnic minorities in the curriculum across all subjects, particularly History, English Literature, Art, Welsh Language, Religious Education and Music. This entails embedding a nuanced, all-encompassing and historically accurate account of Black figures and works that have been integral to the listed subjects with a specific focus on Black Welsh figures and works. Black culture has been, and continues to be, integral to the Welsh identity. We want this to be properly acknowledged within all of our educational systems.

We urge the Welsh Government to fully implement the Equality Act Public Sector Duty into education in Wales including; mandatory anti-racism training for all teachers and administrative staff, mandatory anti-racism for all trainee teachers (whether those undertaking a PGCE or an undergraduate course) and mandatory improvement in the monitoring and recording of hate incidents in schools and universities.

We believe that the Welsh Government should homogenize anti-racism policies across schools in Wales.

5.POLICING & PRISONS

We request an inquiry into institutional and systemic racism in Welsh police forces. The reasons for this can be demonstrated by but is not limited to the following:

Christopher Kepessa - 2019

The Cardiff 5 - 1988

Mahmood Hussein Mattan - 1952

This inquiry should review stop-and-searches and arrests in Wales which disproportionally effects Black communities and BAME citizens.

We require further participation and understanding into any further militarization of our prison and policing systems.

6.PUBLIC SERVANTS

We propose that the Welsh Government should implement compulsory racial bias, hate-crime and de-escalation training for every single person working in the public sector. It is in the public interest that workers in the public sector are effectively equipped and trained.

We propose that the Welsh Government should provide full transparency on what screening processes are currently in place for racist tendencies and bigotry in their recruitment of workers to the public sector.

The Welsh Government should ensure that they thoroughly screen every potential public servant for any racist tendencies or bigotry. Those that fail this screening should not be able to become a public sector worker of any kind.

7.FUNDING

We request that the Welsh Government commit to funding grassroots BAME organisations that evidence their engagement with BAME communities and young BAME citizens across the country.

We request full transparency of the way that BAME organisations in Wales are funded. This avoids a culture of favouritism.

8.GOVERNMENT REVIEWS

In accordance with All Black Lives UK (ABLUK), we urge the Welsh Government to consider the following reviews that extensively detail issues within BAME communities:

Windrush Lessons Learned Review (30 recommendations)

Lammy Review (35 recommendations) Timpson Review (30 recommendations)

McGregor-Smith Review (26 recommendations)

Angiolini Review (110 recommendations)

 

In response to the BLM document, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We welcome the work of Black Lives Matter Newport and will consider this statement alongside other BLM Wales-wide submissions, key research and recommendations as part of our work to develop a Race Equality Action Plan for Wales.

We would welcome the partnership of the BLM movement as we design this plan and prioritise the wide scale cultural, economic, educational and social change required to create an equal and anti-racist Wales. We will be inviting Black Lives Matter Newport and all other BLM region leads to meet with us discuss their proposals.”