جمعية"كارت أحمر"تكافح العنصرية والإسلاموفوبيا

- خبر من مصادر إنجليزية.

أكد "جِيد جريبي" - المدير التنفيذي لجمعية "كارت أحمر" المناهضة للعنصرية بمنطقة "تينيسايد" بشمال شرق "إنجلترا" - أن الجمعية بصدد تكثيف الجهود للتصدي للممارسات العنصرية، بالرغم من تخفيض الحكومة لميزانية دعمها بـ 80 ألف جنيه إسترليني.

وقد انتقد "جيد" التأثير المتزايد لاتحاد الدفاع الإنجليزي اليميني بمدارس المنطقة، إضافة لارتفاع وتيرة "الإسلاموفوبيا"، والدعم لنشاط المنظمات اليمينية التي تسعى لاستغلال الشباب ونشر أفكارها بين طلاب المدارس. المصدر: شبكة الألوكة.

يرجى الإشارة إلى المصدر عند نقل الخبر - شبكة الألوكة.

الخبر من مصدره الأصلي:

Tyneside anti-racism charity vows to defy cuts

A TYNESIDE charity is widening efforts to rid North East schools of racism, despite suffering budget cuts of more than £80,000.

Show Racism the Red Card chief executive Ged Grebby criticised the “growing influence” of the English Defence League in the region’s schools and claimed a “rise in Islamophobia” and the increased support for far right organisations threatened to exploit youngsters and spread through classrooms.

Last night he said that his charity – which was originally formed in Newcastle in 1996 with the aim of booting racism out of professional and grassroots football – had plans to grow its operations and tackle the issue.

But deep Government cuts and a reduction in local council spending has meant the charity has seen more than £80,000 disappear from its spending purse.

Mr Grebby said the charity had been forced to draw on reserves in an effort to maintain its fight against racism.

He said: “The issues have become much more complex than 15 years ago, especially with the rise of Islamophobia and the EDL. The EDL have latched on to this and have exploited the issue and it is a huge issue.”

He added: “Public sector cuts have had an impact on all charities and although we have made a loss this year, the success of previous years has meant we were able to use some of our reserve funds.”

To date, Show Racism the Red Card has 39 staff and 15 retired footballers who work to combat racism. But in the past 12 months it has suffered a first ever financial loss of around £80,000.

The axing of both central Government and council grants, which provide the charity with financial support throughout the year, have forced the charity into a tough position.

This year alone, Newcastle City Council has pulled the plug on a cash investment which totals at least £15,000.

Now Mr Grebby has warned that the EDL has become a “large street movement” after a number of protests organised by the group in recent months had turned violent.

He said: “The biggest loss we’ve faced is from Newcastle City Council who were our first supporter to offer a grant when we were first set up in 1996. They have now pulled out and withdrawn the grant which was £15,000 per year.”

Despite the cuts, Mr Grebby said: “Our reputation is bigger than ever and so is the need to tackle racism.”

The charity works in five North East schools every week to deliver workshops tackling racist behaviour including anti-Muslim attitudes, homophobia and immigration.

Famous supporters include footballers Shola Ameobi, Craig Gordon and Ryan Giggs.