Webchat: Race equality in Scotland
This webchat was open for comments from 4pm - 5pm on Friday 11 March 2011
The panellists were:
Ephraim Borowski, (@ephraim) director of Scottish Council of Jewish Communities and Colin Clark, (@colin) senior lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, Jatin Haria, (@jatin) director of Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights
Click here for the panellists' biographies
House rules: We welcome all lively debate and will not filter or edit your comments. However, we will delete anything offensive and block all trolls. Please direct your comments to the relevant panellist by using @ephraim @colin and @jatin, or if they are for all three, then @panel
Thank you
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 05:02:38
We obviously need far far more in depth discussion on the isuses raised. But this is a great start, so yes, thanks Runnymede, and bye all.
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 05:02:18
From Runnymede's perspective we are interested in looking into more ways to open discussion, on and offline
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 05:02:02
bye all!
Vicki Butler 11 Mar 2011 05:02:00
Thanks everyone! :-D
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 05:01:57
Thanks to everyone! Especially Runnymede for the opportunity±
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 05:01:44
I would like to thank you all for logging in, panellists and participants
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 05:01:26
Well, we have reached 5pm
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 05:01:19
!
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 05:01:06
Jessica - then I look forward to seeing what the rest of the overall strategy is
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 05:00:35
@Jatin, yes I think that there is scope for that. But I think it could be part of an overall strategy
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 05:00:27
Racism at the heart of Govt. Whod' think
Vicki Butler 11 Mar 2011 05:00:04
good point Jatin...
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:59:47
I would have to agree with Ephraim on this one. UKBA has appalling press releases on migrant issues (usually about deportations)
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:59:40
Yes, the conservative essay in the booklet makes for hollow reading in the context of Cameron's words...
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:59:38
Jati - that depends on how they answer Pat!
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:59:34
Agree. Both comments about One Scotland
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:59:03
Jessica - or does it allow the Government to say its doing something, but avoiding the structural changes?
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:58:43
I'm of the old fashioned type - value comes from spending money wisely.
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:58:39
Jessica: indeed! - or worse, opposing, which is what Westminster attacks on "multiculturalism" sound like in Scotland.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:58:22
Await the manifestos for the upcoming elections - wonder what they will say about achieving race equality in Scotland
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:57:52
I can't comment on the One Scotland campaign, but I would imagine that govt taking a lead would be reassuring - better that than nothing?
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:57:12
Also to slip this in before we end: we are trying to set up an online hub for this sort of discussion, albeit from the migrant and migration policy angle
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:56:31
Pat - ask me in 150 years!
Vicki Butler 11 Mar 2011 04:56:12
@jatin yes, an unfortunate typo! We changed it subsequently...
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:56:06
So maybe Michael McMahon was right -- 150 years to go
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:56:05
corrected!
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:55:59
It's been corercted in the online version
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:55:36
Was it really a typo.... ;)
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:55:26
Pat: agreed, some of the early ads were quite weak. There was one where someone was abused in a bar, and just walked out, rather than her friends tackling the abuser. But it still helps for Government to take a lead. Think the Race Relations Act: nothing changed overnight, but most people (sadly not all) wld now not dream of saying the things they said then.
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:55:20
Thanks, Colin, and to be informed we have to put in the right ingredients, time, effort and money of course
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:54:44
@Pat - *Informed* partcipation, yes!
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:54:36
I know it was just a typo, but.....
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:54:22
Just want to ensure I get this in before we close up - I thought it was an interesting freudian slip - In the Runnymede report, Kay's summary states: "The contributions made by the parties reveal an overall consensus that race equality is unacceptable"
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:54:16
Surely the biggest challenge in Scotland right now is fighting the cuts? The impact on all equalities work is looking frightening...
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:53:51
And participation is a key objective for better engaged societies
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:53:11
@Panel: we go on (as does the Govt) about the One Scotland campaign. I personally feel the outcome has not warranted the money spent. Certainly that kind of advertising campaign will not increase participation in politics!
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:52:53
(sorry - that was in reply to jatin, not Vicky!)
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:52:19
Hear hear!
Vicki Butler 11 Mar 2011 04:52:14
@Jatin I agree. To give credit to the Conservatives, at the Westminster elections they did this with the "A list" which is why they have a far greater number of minority ethnic MPs than previously
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:52:06
@Ephraim - yes, if we currently had 129 anti racist MSPs then I wouldn't be arguing for change
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:51:40
@Jessica. It can be difficult, taking those paths even if known. I remember talking to the late Charlie Smith, chair of the Gypsy Council and a Mayor down South. The strain was hard on him, personally and professionally.
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:51:36
I'd be interested in hearing whether anyone has thoughts on what government's duty should be to encourage more political participation - whether that be in elections, voting, other civic engagement
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:51:08
Jatin: you said you wanted anti-racists whatever their skin pigmentation!
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:49:33
Role models can be important, though does the panel think that underrepresented groups are aware of the paths into politics?
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:49:30
Lucy - its back to power. Until the parties put black people forward in winnable seats nothing will change. For example, looking at the candidate lists for the upcoming elections, there are a number of bme people on these lists, but mainly at number 5 or 6 so with no chance of getting elected. If they are good enough to go on the list why are they not good enough to go higher up the list?
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:49:29
Sometimes, I wish we could stop talking about being equal and agree we're human
Vicki Butler 11 Mar 2011 04:49:27
10 more minutes left everyone!
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:48:48
Lucy: the line between positive action and discrimination is difficult - and if, as we seem to be agreeing, we're all different, who adjudicates between different equality strands? (a problem already!)
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:48:40
Jessica, reaching out to them, going to where they are, listening to them, not telling them what to do etc etc. A lot of leg work really. Time. Effort. Not necessarily money
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:47:57
@Ephraim... role models are important, just aware how much pressure that puts on those people, as individuals...
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:47:39
@Pat - what do you think works best in connecting people?
Lucy 11 Mar 2011 04:47:14
are there concrete ways we can increase diversity in Parliament? Do you agree with positive action etc? Are there any shadowing schemes
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:47:11
@jatin @panel - in terms of representation, do you think you'll have those 129 anti-racist MSPs?
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:47:09
@Jatin. Exactly.
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:47:02
Absolutely, Jatin - but still good to have role models, tho they need to be competent to be *good role models!
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:46:49
Unashamed plug: Migrants' Rights Network and Migrants' Rights Scotland are trying to support such a 'hub'.
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:46:49
Yes, and those tribal tendencies are exactly what neo-liberalism wants. Fight amongst yourself, don't direct it at the powerful.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:46:09
I would rather have 129 anti racist MSPs in the parliament, rather than one or two more black MSPs
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:46:03
Jessica: yes, but there's an added problem that the elderly and remote are not necessarily very web-savvy
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:45:23
Jessica, I think we struggle to make our networks work. There are tribal tendencies even in networks, or should as say in spite of?
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:45:12
@Ephraim - research I've done re: Thai women throughout the UK there were similiar examples as they are very dispersed. Do organizations act as hubs? Are there online spaces for contact?
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:45:07
But, it is true of Westminster as it is Holyrood.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:44:59
Hi Lucy - Yes, but just having more diversity will not itself lead to better outcomes
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:44:40
@Lucy. Yes. There is serious under-representation in Parliament.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:44:17
@Colin - Ok, then I take my apology back as well :)
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:43:45
@Colin - OK
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:43:39
Jessica: can't speak for other communities, but that's precisely what the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities is. We have had amazing experiences - two elderly women contacting us within half an hour for example each lonely and looking for someone to talk to - and it turned out they lived in same village!
Lucy 11 Mar 2011 04:43:19
Hi everyone. Does more need to be done to increase diversity in the Scottish Parliament?
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:43:10
@Jatin. Actually, I take that back. Being deliberately provactive is perfectly acceptable for debates on the internet!
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:42:09
@ephraim are networks in place?\n
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:41:52
@Jatin... not sure being deliberately provocative is a helpful strategy in a forum such as this. I've always felt encouraged by the turnouts to send the SDL packing and other such demonstrations. And yes, Trade Unions responded to the first few 'waves' of immigration quite shamefully... supporting the 'white' workers over 'coloured' workers. I'd like to think we have learned some lessons....
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:40:00
Absolutely! The point about "the diversity of diversity" is that there is no "minority community" in the singular. Members of different minorities are as different as they are from the supposed majority, so the only way to promote their security and well-being is to tie them into a geographically diffuse network.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:39:51
@Colin - and I still remember a good few years ago, just about when we had pursuaded a LA to go for its first eviction of a council tenant on racial grounds, a good few of the united left supported the 'poor working class' family and halted the eviction
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:39:11
Jessica, Dont think it'll be much different from what it is at the moment: race hardly gets a word in in the wider geographical areas.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:38:25
@Colin - yes, I was being deliberately provocative. But even the SSP in its hayday didn't have proper minority representation, involvement, etc.
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:38:03
@Ephraim - yes, I take it this will hit those more geographically dispersed hardest?
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:37:30
To pick up Jatin's point, that's why I was going on about "localism" on Tuesday. If resource decisions are pushed down to local authorities, and minority communities are statistically invisible, the resources disappear.
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:37:14
I see racism as part and parcel of the operation/logic of neo-liberalism / late capitalism (whatever your preference is). It is another means to create an US/THEM dichotomy that is not class-based.
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:37:14
I see, thank you for the clarification. @panel – do you feel that reduced public funding has/will hindered solidarity or coalition building among community organizations around these issues?
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:37:13
@Panel: does the united left really fight racism in Scotland?
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:36:03
Jessica - Vicky's answered it. Yes the RRRIF Government funding has stayed static for another year, but this is one funding stream only. Others, eg local authorities, etc, have made cuts to race quality projects
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:35:46
@Jatin. There was support and examples, certainly via the SSP before the split. Also via the Trade Unions. And the broader movements opposing the SDL organising in Scotland.
Phil Mawhinney 11 Mar 2011 04:34:26
@Colin - Hope you don't mind me pushing you a bit. Why is the defeat of racism inextricable from the defeat of neo-liberalism?
Vicki Butler 11 Mar 2011 04:34:26
@Jatin sorry, what I meant was that the Scottish Government RRR funding has remained (as far as I understand it) but in the UK 100% of government race equality funding has been cut. I don't really have any knowledge at all of other Scotland funding streams though!
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:34:03
@Jatin - do you mean people say there hasn't been cuts to funding even though the reverse is true? (I was unable to make it Tuesday)
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:33:57
Until this occurs we can only stick plasters on the causes and consequences.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:33:49
@Colin - At the risk of upsetting even more people this week, did the united left really fight racism in Scotland
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:33:44
Aditya: can't speak for England, but if Cameron is right, then policy has been promote "segregated communities", whereas in Scotland the "One Scotland- Many Cultures" policy promotes an integrated community, which is not incompatible with people preserving their own (multiple) identities.
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:33:23
And I think you hit the nail on the head Jatin... only wider structural changes, challenges to the neo-liberal agenda, will defeat racism.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:32:33
Vicky - do not be fooled by people who say 'lack of funding cuts for race equality' This is certainly not my experience
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:32:17
I've heard in high quarters assertions that there is no racism in Scotland.
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:31:54
@Jatin.... we used to. When the Left in Scotland was a bit more united....
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:31:26
Aditya - difficult to answer in a few words. But certainly there is less community pressure here - so no-one is really challenging the establishment, calling for structural change, etc
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:31:02
@Ephraim. Good point. None of us are one strand. We are many. It is all relational. How we interact with others.
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:31:00
Sadly, the world has selected to use 'race' as a category of difference even though we are all one human race.
Vicki Butler 11 Mar 2011 04:30:55
I'm particularly interested in Aditya's Q on differences between Scotland/England race equality debate. It strikes me as there are some major differences (eg around Scottish identity, and lack of funding cuts for race equality) but just wondered what the panel thought?
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:30:05
But even racism is singling out one strand of identity. How is it different from other hate-isms?
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:29:43
I'm thinking here of Norman Finkelstein's work.
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:29:27
To me, acknowledging racism exists is the big step to acknowledging our fears of being subjgated under some power or other.
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:29:18
Yes - not real power, often, but people giving themselves the illusion of power. Bullying, in a word!
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:29:14
Well, that sense of historical victimhood has been used, often, to justify contemporary horrors...
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:29:06
@Aditya, I thought it interesting with such a downplay on racial inequality in government (well not, Clegg) Baroness Warsi felt it important to mention Scottish identity is more inclusive. Although I don't think she extended her comments to race/racism
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:28:34
Yes, power and notions of superiority
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:28:11
It's all about power.
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:27:59
Just to add - there's nothing so sad as "my victimhood is worse than your victimhood".
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:27:54
So. What do we understand about racism?
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:27:40
Trouble is, are we all prepared to believe that we all at the receiving end of 'hate'?
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:27:32
@Colin, Pat Yes, I agree, but to tackle racism you need to understand it
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:27:10
Pat, Colin: absolutely! I think that's the answer to the question about whether sectarianism is different too. What we're talking about is hate crime motivated solely by the fact that the victim is seen to be different.
Phil Mawhinney 11 Mar 2011 04:26:44
@Colin - I would second that.
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:26:36
Exactly Colin! We all hurt.
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:25:49
I think we need to be a wee bit careful here of falling into the trap of colour vs cultural racism... forms of racism differ, their impacts are felt by those at the sharp end of it all...
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:25:38
For example, Michael McMahon MSP said on Tuesday that it has taken Irish migrants 150 years to achieve economic parity in Scotland. Yes, but 100 years on, you would not necessarily know all of them were of Irish descent
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:25:33
However for all the legislation of the past nearly 30 years, how far forward have the black communities come???
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:25:27
Jatin: when someone says that they can't empathise with a victim because "they are not black enough" (which, believe it or not, has been said), then that victim is twice victimised.
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:25:02
We are ALL different. We are ALL vauable and should be given the dignity of that!
Phil Mawhinney 11 Mar 2011 04:24:16
@Euphraim - yes, good point re BME/ME etc. Many an acronym. Certainly, an emphasis on 'colour racism' misses much of the abuse and disadvantage experienced in Jewish, Gypsy, Polish etc communities.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:23:41
I don't want to enter into a debate about terminology. But thre are major differences for people of colour.
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:23:07
Certainly in organisations that I'm involved with, like BEMIS. Our Board has representatives from Roma, Irish, as well as me from Jewish Community.
Aditya 11 Mar 2011 04:22:59
@Panel. Hello, Aditya Chakrabortty from The Guardian here (although here out of interest rather than to report). Being a journalist, I wonder if i might ask a crashingly basic question of the panellists: Put broadly, how would you say the debate about race equality in Scotland differs from that in England?
Phil Mawhinney 11 Mar 2011 04:22:49
@Colin - Interesting. Yet another eg of the slightly bizarre and farcical nature of some of the violence in NI.
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:22:17
I mean in the case of central and eastern European migrants
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:22:02
@ephraim - does anti-racism work also then extend to white minority groups
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:21:37
@Phil. Also, there was some confusion - some of the loyalist youths involved in the attacks seemed to think the Roma were Catholic - not true of course.
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:21:22
Pat: that's what I meant in my first comment about self-delusion.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:20:59
Jessica - not sure the debate on integrationis as strong here as in England. And community cohesion rarley gets a mention.
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:20:44
Sorry, Phil, can't comment. What I can tell you from personal experience is that "Protestant" is often taken to mean "non-Catholic". But the other is issue is your use of "BME". The largest minorities now are from Eastern Europe. That's why government now prefers just "ME", as otherwise they are doubly excluded - not part of the "majority" (is there such a thing?) but not "BME" either.
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:20:25
@Phil. Hi Phil. A blend of factors caused the families to leave. Not least their houses being attacked and individuals being subjected to abuse/violence.
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:20:15
Sorry, @Panel: does Scotland suffer from outdated self-concept of liberalism, therefore 'racism does not exist here'?
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:19:41
@Colin - yes, so we can ignore it. I don't think I saw any dissent from the politicians at Tuesday's debate on anything?
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:19:32
@Panel Does Scotland suffer from outdated selfo
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:19:32
@Panel Does Scotland suffer from outdated selfo
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:19:08
@jatin @panel - if not racism, is there another proxy? It seems we're hearing more about integration
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:18:36
@Jatin - yes, and when it has emerged as a party political issues it has usually been along the lines of 'well, it's not as bad as it is in England..'. Rather frustrating.
Phil Mawhinney 11 Mar 2011 04:17:56
@Colin - what was your reading of the Roma incident in 2009?
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:17:17
I meant recalssification by the police - back to the issue of not having clear, consistent, comparable guidelines.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:17:02
Looking at wider issues - Kay Hampton said at Tuesday's meeting that she was glad the debate was taking place as 'racism' rarley connects with the Scottish political agenda. I agree with her on this.
Phil Mawhinney 11 Mar 2011 04:16:52
@Ephraim - As you probably know, there is fairly common perception in NI that Protestant/Unionist communities are significantly more exclusionary and/or violent towards BME people than the Catholic/Nationalist community. Not saying whether that is true or not but wondering if there is a similar narrative in Scotland.
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:16:40
@ephraim that is very interesting. is reclassification due to perceived identity or self-classification?
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:16:33
Don't know there are stats about that can say if sectarianism is lesser and racist incidents are greater. But surely Panel it's all bout treating 'others' badly!
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:16:08
I think the example of Roma families in Belfast (2009) showed how sectarianism and racism go together...
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:15:45
Yes, I meant intra-Christian religious tensions - I've used sectarian because I'm not familiar with other terms
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:15:20
The NI experience might be because of re-classification. We know that one Scottish force recorded 6 antisemitic incidence, 3 as racial and 3 as religious.
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:14:29
Jatin - Yes, I guess I was trying to think about what factors can explain racism and its continued / growing nature.
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:14:19
Jessica: what do you mean by "sectarian". The normal use is for intra-Christian religious hatred. Is there any reason to treat that differently from religious hatred in general?
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:14:19
I remember from work we've done in Northern Ireland that while a decrease in sectarian violence there was an increase in racially motivated crimes
Phil Mawhinney 11 Mar 2011 04:13:39
@panel - Hi panel, I'm Phil Mawhinney, Uni of Edinburgh Geography graduate. I'm from Belfast and I wonder if and how sectarianism in Scotland affects BME people's experiences. To be blunt, is one side worse than the other?
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:13:12
@Ephraim, not sure I understood that comment
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:13:07
Colin - rather than a debate about why an increase or decrease, I'd rather we address the issue of racism itself
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:13:01
@panel, thinking about the increase in racially motivated violence, is there an associated rise in sectarian violence?
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:12:29
But it's not helped by the 8 police forces having autonomy to make up their own guidelines. I guess not much longer!
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:12:19
And that can't just be down to the economic meltdown and increased tensions over resources and services etc.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:12:12
Question - when the figures go down, will hte police say its less reluctance to report, or will they calim its due to less racism?
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:11:32
So, the question is really what is fuelling an increase in racism, or the willingness to report it...
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:11:21
Wish I could put my hand on the police reports right now but memory says they are keen to play up the part they play in successfully following them up.
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:10:59
I think a bit of both. Police have done some work on their reporting procedures, and perhaps more people are prepared to report.
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:10:59
Hmmm. It might explain an element of that rise.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:10:23
Maybe its increased racism?
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:09:52
Colin - Usually the police say its down to better reporting!
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:09:42
Is is increased reporting? Or something else?
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:09:35
Ephraim - yes, usual stats are 90% of incidents go unreported.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:09:34
Ephraim - yes, usual stats are 90% of incidents go unreported.
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:09:00
I meant three racist murders in just the past two years!!
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:08:36
Not to mention at least three racist murders: Kunal Mohanty, murdered in Glasgow in an unprovoked racist knife attack, Nachhatar Singh Bola, kicked to death in Renfrew (the racial aggravation charge was dropped by the Crown during the court proceedings) and Simon San, whose family believe the attack to be racially motivated)
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:08:25
Hi! - and just to be clear, Jatin, that's 17 incidents *reported* every day. The real figure is likely to be considerably higher.
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:07:58
Hi Jatin. How do the Police explian this rise?
Pat Elsmie 11 Mar 2011 04:07:46
Hello, Pat Elsmie, Director of Migrants' Rights Scotland here. I'm very aware that many from the BME communities experience daily microaggressions due to their ethnicity - so to me racism is alive and well in Multicultural Scotland.
Vicki Butler 11 Mar 2011 04:07:16
Hi Colin and Ephraim!
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:07:13
OK - I'll kick off. We've just ahd figures showing a 20.4% increase in racial incidents reported to Scottish Police forces over the last year. That's 17 people abused every day. A definite challenge for race relations in Scotland.
colin clark 11 Mar 2011 04:06:08
Hi. I am here as well. This is Colin from Strathclyde University.
Ephraim Borowski 11 Mar 2011 04:06:07
Start at the other end - what we've got right is a concept of multiculturalism that is positive and inclusive (think Clegg, not Cameron - as Baroness Warsi recognised last week). That said we can't be complacent - saying "it's not a problem here" is self-delusion. And we still have some way to go to recognise what I call the diversity of diversity.
Vicki Butler 11 Mar 2011 04:05:39
Hi Jatin!
Jatin 11 Mar 2011 04:05:16
Hi all, its Jatin from the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights
Vicki Butler 11 Mar 2011 04:02:47
@panel what do you think are the current key challenges for race relations in Scotland?
Jessica Sims 11 Mar 2011 04:01:16
Hi and welcome to the Race Equality in Scotland Webchat. Our panellists will be available for the next hour to answer your questions!
Nina Kelly 11 Mar 2011 03:55:53
Comments will open shortly.
