Anti-Racism Week launches
JOBURG - Anti-Racism Week set to entrench the collective dignity of our people - will you join?
Anti-Racism Week falls from 14 to 21 March and South Africans are encouraged to look past skin colour, embrace each other and unite as a Rainbow Nation.
Anti-Racism Week is the first of its kind in South Africa and coincides with the commemoration of the Sharpeville massacre and the celebration of Human Rights Day on 21 March.
South Africans are encouraged to spend this week speaking out against racist acts and hate speech, as well as taking a stand to stopping racism altogether.
The campaign is being launched by the Anti-Racism Network South Africa (ARNSA), which comprises about 80 organisations and is driven by the Ahmed Kathrada and Nelson Mandela Foundations. Even the Democratic Alliance and Congress of South Africa Trade Unions have pledged their support for the movement.
@Our_DA The DA encourages all South Africans to support anti-racism week which commences today https://t.co/zqL0ZQVH5r
— Propleadfind (@VoteDA2019) March 14, 2016
Pledge your support to #TakeOnRacism now at https://t.co/Tb0VUPcbkR Support Anti-Racism Week, 14 – 21 March 2016 pic.twitter.com/ahDVlupZWO
— NelsonMandela (@NelsonMandela) March 13, 2016
Today marks start of Anti-Racism Week during which SA's are encouraged to take on racism by speaking out against it and acting to stop it
— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) March 14, 2016
In a statement sent out by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Kathrada himself said he was recently invited to speak at a Gauteng school ahead of the launch of Anti-Racism Week.
“As I walked on stage, I could not help but marvel at what I saw: a gathering of young people of all races attending the same school, sitting next to each other on the same floor, attentively listening to talks about racism, discrimination and human rights,” Kathrada said.
“For me, this was a snapshot of what South African society is capable of practically achieving through the bridging of racial divides.”
He continued, “My wish is that every South African supports Anti-Racism Week and gets involved in, or hosts, activities aimed at addressing the issue of race. I would want to see this campaign empowering individuals, organisations and communities to learn and talk about, and speak out and act against all forms of racism – be it personal, institutional, structural or cyber racism,” Kathrada added.
He concluded by stating that racism squanders human potential and that combating it is not the job of one organisation or the government alone.
“It is not only about securing one’s own rights, but about entrenching the collective dignity of our people.”
While many people have jumped on board with the campaign, a few have taken to social media to voice their doubts about it and many have raised the point that every week should be anti-racism week.
Why are we having an anti-racist week? Shouldn't we be anti-racism ALWAYS?
— Genna with a G (@Genna2911) March 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/haydnhugh/status/709267124628430848
https://twitter.com/The_Ricker1/status/709360536878616576
Anti-Racism Week: Does race impact your identity? @ShingaiDarangwa writes about reclaiming his black identity https://t.co/DiMy2QDAuI
— Project Demo. (@ProjectDemoZA) March 14, 2016
Details: www.arnsa.org.za.
