- Conference
- 2006 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 14 September 2005
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference deplores the recent bombings on London tube trains and a bus as inexcusable acts of mass murder, committed without warning against ordinary people in the hear of one of the world’s most diverse, multi-ethnic cities. We extend sympathy to those who have lost loved ones, and salute the courage and solidarity of our fellow workers in the emergency and other services.
Conference further notes that this has been one of a series of terrorist action across the world with, to give one example, over 1000 victims so far in Pakistan in a number of incidents. We therefore particularly appreciate messages of support received from trade unions overseas who have themselves faced the same type of attack.”
Conference further deplores the subsequent impact this has had on members of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) community, both within the UK and globally.
Conference also notes the distressing increase in racial attacks since 7 July and deplores the fact that right-wing groups such as the BNP have attempted to use the bombings to drum up further hatred of certain communities, for example Muslims. This piles more pressure on policies of community cohesion, the effectiveness of which remains in doubt.
Furthermore, Conference notes that the disquiet caused amongst many sections of the population by the UK’s international policy has given a justification, however skewed, for those bent on terrorism.
Conference therefore calls upon the NBMC to work through both the relevant structures within UNISON, at local, regional and national level, through the TUC International structures and all other relevant organisations at the appropriate level to lobby the government to:
1.Work with all BME communities to increase awareness and understanding of the UK’s international policies and its potential impact both positively and
negatively on their communities.
2.Raise awareness of BME views in the practice of community cohesion
policies;
3. Make more resources available for the promotion of race equality
strategies
4. ‘Cease with immediate effect the practice of focusing on one ethnic sector of a local community as a deterrent to terrorism but rather see that the UK is one large community and that all are equally at risk both internally and externally from acts of terrorism’.
5. Provide an effectively resourced and robust framework and process for multi-
agency collaboration in negating the potential indoctrination of young people and
adults by any potential terrorist or extremist organisation.