The Coronavirus Pandemic and a major economic crash create the conditions in which racism can grow. Donald Trump calls it ‘the Chinese virus’ and we have seen violent attacks on the Chinese and Asian Communities in the Midlands, there have been false claims blaming the Muslim Community for crowding into mosques and local shops and defying the social distancing rules.
Stand Up To Racism Birmingham is determined that we will not allow the fact that we are isolated in our houses prevent us from continuing to oppose racism in all its forms. We note that the first 5 Doctors to die in the UK were all Muslims. Far from being a drain on our society it is migrants that make our NHS.
Rose Brown, joint chair SUTR Birmingham says
‘The faces of coronavirus fatalities in the NHS are far from white.
The first deaths were of doctors who were not British nationals. Our NHS relies heavily on support of people from all over the world. Healthcare refugees asked to be considered in the fight against coronavirus.More now than ever we need to remember that disease does not discriminate – and nor should we.’
Martin Lynch, Convenor Black Country SUTR, said ‘The most powerful thing to come out of this disaster is the way in which communities have stood together. The Covid-19 virus is indicriminate. Scapegoating and racism have no place in our society’.
We ask everyone to join ‘Clap For Our Carers: Migrants Make the NHS’ at 8pm every Thursday.
