We are deeply shocked and saddened by the horrifying racist violence and riots that have occurred in a number of towns and cities in the UK over the past few days. As staff of a global organisation who are based in the UK, we are deeply concerned about and are affected by the racism, xenophobia, and others form of hatred we are seeing and experiencing.
INTRAC is committed to being anti-racist, and this commitment compels us to speak out. We stand in solidarity with people of colour, Black, Jewish, Muslim, and non-White people affected by racist violence.We condemn the violence we are seeing and its racist roots, and stand with those speaking out against racism and acting to support affected communities.
We believe that vibrant, diverse and inclusive civil societies are essential catalysts for a world where everyone can thrive. The recent erosion of civic space and debate in the UK has emboldened far-right extremists to be visibly racist and violent. This is directly counter to positive social change needed to deliver just, equitable and sustainable societies for all.
INTRAC is always aiming to deepen our engagement with and understanding of civil society and its vital role in just societies. We would like to connect more deeply with people and organisations with perspectives on racism and civic spaces, including in the UK. We would welcome a more detailed reflection on the nature of civil society in the UK and the challenges it faces. We invite people to contact us and contribute a blog post on our platform to share their perspectives.
By building a locally rooted, globally connected approach, we hope to learn together, act in solidarity for justice, and create just, equitable, and sustainable societies for all.