UNITED NOT DIVIDED, Statement from Brighton and Hove UNISON
At a time when the agents of fear and misinformation are ramping up their rhetoric, our branch felt it was important to make a clear and unequivocal statement; OUR MEMBERS ARE UNITED AND NOT DIVIDED and we stand in solidarity and support with all those currently feeling targeted and unsafe.
We are outraged that so many mainstream politicians, and the mainstream media in the UK seem determined to encourage hate and division at a time when co-operation and collective action is our only hope of making it through the profound challenges of inequality, illegal wars, climate change and the rise of authoritarianism and fascism.
Stigmatising and blaming vulnerable groups like refugees and asylum seekers or attempting to turn back the rights and protections of those that have been marginalised like women, people with disabilities, people of colour and LGBTQ+ people has never solved any problem that humanity has faced. In fact, filling people’s hearts and minds with suspicion and hate of those that are different to themselves has only ever led to greater suffering and injustice. History is full of catastrophic examples.
The simple truth is that our anger should be focussed on the true reason for the further collapse of public services, community cohesion and the rise in poverty and ill health; and that is the rampant growth of wealth inequality. In the UK the richest 1% are increasing their wealth by £2bn a day and now own more wealth than 70% of Britons. If wealth continues to grow at this rate ‘…by 2035, the wealth of the richest 200 families will be larger than the whole UK GDP.’ (The Equality Trust). The organisation Patriotic Millionaires say that £60b a year could be raised for public services and housing by reforming tax on wealth in the UK.
The fact that political establishment figures are cheerleading on the most superficial form of patriotism, flying a St George’s flag, is another example of cynical and damaging politics. True patriotism is surely best expressed by a love that embraces a country in all its cultural diversity and that values the contribution of and protection of all citizens. What we are seeing in the mass putting up of flags on street lights is not just a ‘breach of the Highways Act’ as said in recent council communications, it is a campaign orchestrated by well-known far-right, extremists to intimidate and assert authority. Many who have put up flags may see it as no different than hanging Union Jack bunting at a street party, but if they do, we recommend they read Hope Not Hate’s recent news post that reveals the real force behind Raise the Colour’s call to action.
We are at a turning point - people are waking up to the true reasons why life is so hard, and why the world feels so unsafe - and they are demanding change; the near million person sign up to Your party is a powerful indicator of this. Whatever your politics, ask yourself, who benefits by encouraging us to be divided, to turn away from rather than embrace diversity and equality? It won’t be you, and it won’t be your family and friends or your community. That’s why our branch is clear, we are united not divided against all forms of racism, discrimination and intimidation.
How to raise £60 billion for public services: our ten tax reforms — Patriotic Millionaires UK
‘Operation Raise the Colours’ Organised by Well-Known Far-Right Extremists – HOPE not hate
Download the UNITY statement here:
United no Divided, Statement from Brighton & Hove UNISON (PDF with live links)