Get involved in Anti-Racism Week

Picture: Supplied

Picture: Supplied

Published Mar 14, 2016

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Cape Town - The fight against racism will take centre stage this week with events scheduled around the country as Anti-Racism Week begins on Monday.

The week, which is a first-of-its-kind in the country , will run from Monday until March 21, to coincide with the commemoration of the Sharpeville massacre and the celebration of Human Rights Day next Monday.

Some of the events will be hosted by the Anti-Racism Network South Africa (ARNSA), of which the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Foundation are partners, along with at least 80 other organisations.

Independent Media also partnered with the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union, the Fibre Processing Seta and Sekunjalo Investment Holdings to launch the #RacismStopsWithMe campaign this year.

The organisers have encouraged people to identify, promote and build on good practices and initiatives to prevent, reduce and eradicate racism and to empower communities and individuals to take action to challenge racism and to seek redress where it occurs.

Ahmed Kathrada Foundation spokeswoman, Zaakirah Vadi, said: “March 21 will be the height of the campaign because it will be marked across South Africa as Anti-Racism Day. As much as it commemorates the history of the Sharpeville massacre and Human Rights Day, it will also be about tackling racism today.

“During Anti-Racism Week there will be a series of activities taking place, hosted by various organisations, with many of them being led by ARNSA,” she said.

Vadi added that faith-based institutions will dedicate the weekend’s sermons to preaching anti-racism.

“There will be various dialogues and discussions in relation to issues of race as well as work place discussions and sporting bodies will support this campaign,” she said.

Cricket South Africa partnered with ARNSA in the recent T20 series against Australia and the West Indies where the national men and women’s cricket teams added their voices to the campaign.

“We want people to learn about racism, talk about racism, speak out against racism and take action against racism. They can do this by hosting their own events. If they cannot attend or host their own events, they can find a pledge on ARNSA’s website,” Vadi said.

The first programme in Anti-Racism week will be held on Monday at the Gibson Pillay Academy in Lenasia South, Gauteng, where ARNSA and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation will host an anti-racism school assembly.

The MEC for Transport in Gauteng and Ahmed Kathrada Foundation board member, Ismail Vadi, will speak at the assembly.

On Monday and Tuesday, the South African Human Rights Commission will host an anti-racism conference in Midrand.

The Western Cape leg of Anti-Racism Week starts in Witzenburg, Ceres, on Tuesday, where the Department of Arts and Culture will address the community.

On Wednesday, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development will host an anti-racism dialogue in the Free State, while the Department of Arts and Culture will facilitate a community dialogue in KwaZulu-Natal.

On Thursday, Department of Arts and Culture will host another community dialogue at the Drakenstein Paarl East Thusong Centre.

 

Friday will see the Department of Arts and Culture facilitate the celebration of Human Rights Day at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

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Cape Argus

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