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One Society Many Cultures - launched in Parliament

Wednesday, 25 November 2009 14:38

Cross–party political figures, religious leaders, trade unionists and anti-racist campaigners are amongst the individuals that launched a new campaign “One Society Many Cultures” and pledged to stand up against division and hatred, to defend the right to freedom of thought, religion and culture at one of the most diverse events ever held in Parliament.

Speakers at the event included Ken Livingstone, Rt. Hon Sadiq Khan MP – Minister for Transport, Simon Hughes MP, Emily Thornberry MP, Susan Kramer MP, Dr Abdul Bari – Secretary General of Muslim Council of Britain, Rabbi Lee Wax - Jewish Council for Racial Equality, Bruce Kent - Vice President of Pax Christi, Dabinderjit Singh OBE - Sikh Secretariat, Anas Altikriti - British Muslim Initiative, Billy Hayes - General Secretary of Communication Workers Union, Diana Holland - Assistant General Secretary UNITE, Jenny Jones - Green Party London Assembly Member, Salma Yaqoob - Leader of The Respect Party, Pav Akhtar - Chair of Imaan, Weyman Bennet - Love Music Hate Racism, Sabby Dhalu - Unite Against Fascism.

The campaign, which was initiated by Ken Livingstone, aims to bring together people of all faiths and none. It will monitor and respond to discrimination against different communities as well as promote the positive benefits of diversity for the economy, culture and society generally.

Rt. Hon Sadiq Khan MP said:

"I was born and raised in London, the most diverse city in the world and went to the local school where I thought nothing of mixing with different faiths and different races and backgrounds. The words of Pastor Niemoller demonstrate the tactics of the far right who are trying to peel off the weakest and the most vulnerable. Some intellectuals point to the thesis of the Clash of Civilisations, others point to the narrative post cold war that the new problems are caused by Muslims and Islam. London is a wonderful city. It is a badge of shame that we have the BNP sat on the London Assembly and in the European parliament, representing this country."

Ken Livingstone said:

"The launch of One Society Many Cultures could not be more timely. Britain’s history is riddled with examples of communities being vilified, from the Jewish refugees of the early 20th century being accused of bringing diseases here, to the “No Blacks No Irish No Dogs” signs that were common place in the 1960s. We have made huge progress but there is always a backlash. Today the Muslim community and asylum seekers are being targeted. All communities make a choice about the way they live their lives; that is why cities like London are socially, culturally and economically competitive on the world stage. This is a template for the future of humanity, as it faces the challenges of climate change and the demand for resources. The only way we get through this is together. Our city coped so well after the bombings because of our unity and respect for each other. I am proud that there was not one reprisal attack, which is what the bombs were intended for. The British identity is the biggest mixing bowl in human history. This is what makes it successful. We must resist the idea that ‘Britishness’ is telling communities how to live their lives. It may start with the Muslim community but will end up being directed at all of us."

Simon Hughes MP said:

"It is a pleasure to be here and it is right to be here and on behalf of my colleagues, we fully support the campaign. After the end of the Second World War, wise people across the continent, reacting to the terrible suffering of the Jewish people in particular, thought there were rights that needed to be guaranteed. It’s not coincidental that the European Convention on Human Rights was drafted immediately after the war in order to give a more civilised opportunity for issues about human rights to be resolved. This campaign is not just about talking to each other – it’s about talking to people of our own faith and communities who will have a less tolerant attitude than we will have. Above all, it is about standing up for each other and each other's communities when they are under attack. I'm here because my job and your job is to stand up for each other when the other person's values or faith or culture or rights are under threat."

Emily Thornberry MP said:

"The message of this campaign is of huge importance to an area like Islington. We come from all countries…every background. We like the fact that we have people from all over the world. I am profoundly ashamed of what has happened recently at City University and the racist attacks that have happened against Muslim students there. We in London are a proud community and nobody is going to undermine us. We have to stick together and we will. I give all my support to this campaign.”

Susan Kramer MP said:

"People of all faiths and no faith have a significant contribution to make to society.
Whilst British identity and values are portrayed in the media as a big issue, people have identities that are complex, but that they are very comfortable with. My family encompass Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths, with people from across four continents and a variety of different colours. I consider this makes me exceedingly British."

Dr. Abdul Bari Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said:

"Racists and bigots have exploited the 7th July bombings to target the Muslim community. This undermines the contribution of our community, including the hundreds of thousands of Muslims and Asian people who died in World War Two to protect Europe from fascism. With the fascist BNP rising, and the EDL attacking Muslims on the street, we must not allow hatred against any community to thrive."

Rabbi Lee Wax, Jewish Council for Racial Equality said:

"I’m here as a Jew, firstly representing the Jewish Council for Racial Equality, I’m also here as a Rabbi and in a personal capacity as someone passionate about human rights and anti-racism. Judaism has at its very core social action ... repairing our part of the broken world ... we must protect the stranger, the orphan and the oppressed. As a Jew I welcome the launch of One Society Many Cultures, pledging mine and my community's support for it."

Bruce Kent Vice President Pax Christi said:

"The very foundations of democracy and freedom in our society are the rights to freedom of expression and consciousness. These rights have been hard fought for, sometimes defended by wars, over hundreds of years. Yet we are seeing an attack on these fundamental rights that must be stood up to by people of all faiths and none, which is why this meeting was called. We must remember that God has no favourites. One Society Many Cultures reflects the broad and diverse strength of feeling there is on this issue, and could not be more timely as we are seeing a rise in the far right, and with it, a discourse that will impact on those that they target."

Dabinderjit Singh OBE Sikh Secretariat said:

"The Sikh Community is very proud to be part of this launch as it’s important that we stick together. You have to speak out for justice and freedom. Not your own freedom but freedom for all. Sikhs by definition are defenders of human rights. Most of you will remember a 14- year girl in South Wales who was denied her right to wear her Kara to school. She took on the establishment and she won. A few weeks back Gurmeal Singh of Greater Manchester Police took them on and won his right to wear his turban. One Society Many Cultures is a timely campaign that can bring people together to defend the rights of all."

Anas Altikriti, British Muslim Initiative said:

"We come all corners of the world, we speak every language that is spoken, we practise every faith and creed that exists in the entire world here in this city and in this country. In order to meet the challenges of racism, fascism, Islamophobia, anti-Semetism, all forms of prejudice, segregation and hatred we need to stand together to defend the rights of each and everyone of us, regardless of where we come from, regardless of whether we worship or not, regardless of how we worship. We need to challenge the presupposition that Islam poses a threat, that Muslims are a destabilising factor amongst us and also that by legislating for the abolition of human rights and civil liberties we somehow increase the blanket of safety and security for the rest of us. We must continue to stand together."

Billy Hayes, General Secretary of Communication Workers Union said:

"I speak representing workers who deliver to 28 million people. I am proud that our union supported prayer rooms in the workplace, which is a particular need of Muslim workers but were then used by people of all faiths. This is one of the most diverse meetings that I have ever attended in Parliament – but we still have a long way to go to achieve diversity in Parliament. I am proud of the diversity of our society and proud to give the support of the CWU to this campaign."

Diana Holland Assistant General Secretary UNITE said:

"I think it is important to have a clear strong campaign with such a simple message that is incredibly powerful and can bring us all together. It’s about standing firm against the divisiveness, the bigotry and the hatred. But it’s also about the positive vision that diversity means and the strength that it brings. For all those who say we can’t afford equality, we must say we can’t afford inequality. One Society Many Cultures is a really strong message that can build the kind of unity that we need."

Jenny Jones Green Party London Assembly Member said:

"Diversity is the strength of our society. It generates ideas and innovation and that is why we should all promote and celebrate our multicultural society. Peace and fun are good reasons for multiculturalism."

Salma Yaqoob, Leader of The Respect Party said:

"This slogan One Society Many Cultures is absolutely necessary now. Black people, Asian people, Irish people and Jewish communities have been demonized at different points at history. If you are Muslim right now in this country, your mental health status, who you sleep with and your political and religious views are being recorded. Black, White, Asian, people of faith and no faith let us take this fight up not just against racism but for equality, for fairness, for everybody."

Pav Akhtar Chair of Imaan - the Muslim LGBT support group said:

"This campaign embodies the diversity of my identity. It gives a profile to the minoritised and marginalised voices of groups like Imaan. LGBT Muslim people face homophobia and Islamophobia. We often hear about the homophobia in the Muslim community in the media, with the impression that homophobia originates in the Muslim community. This contributes to the overall climate of hostility that impacts upon all Muslims, of all sexualities. To effectively tackle homophobia, we must remember that it is present in all communities of all faiths and none and that the LGBT community is also not immune from Islamophobia."