At Stand Up to Racism (Vale) we believe in being vocally and visibly active as we fight for social justice.
We are currently joining other activists in supporting a number of crucial campaigns throughout Wales.
And have a number of voluntary vacancies to help us deliver our mission:
- Secretariat – to produce agenda, take and produce minutes for our fortnightly meetings, and general admin duties.
- Social Media Manager – to run our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts
- Events Manager – to plan and deliver our activism, fundraisers, and events with other branches of Stand Up To Racism – locally and nationally.
- Committee Members – to actively engage with our causes and campaigns
These are ideal opportunities for activists keen to visibly and proactively engage with our community – looks good on the CV too!
Contact us through our Facebook page so we can sort a quick online chat.
Our Campaigns include:
Help Us Honour our Barry Black Hero Abdulramin Abby Farah
The Vale’s Stand Up to Racism collective (SUTR Vale) are finding the funds for a permanent plaque in honour of the Barry Boy that helped free Mandela.
Abdulramin Abby Farah, played a key role in the South African Apatheid story due to his work as a Somali diplomat with the United Nations. He was Deputy Secretary General of the UN between 1979 and 1990, served as the Permanent Representative of Somalia to the UN from 1965-72, and was the Ambassador of Somalia to Ethiopia in the 1960s.
Read more about his incredible life story here.
Now SUTR Vale, the Black-led Campaign Group who, with the strong support of Allies, aim to unite our communities want to see Abdulramin remembered with a tribute at Gladstone School where he attended as a pupil.
So please donate to our campaign to see Abby get a Nubian Jak commemorative plaque to honour his historic contribution.
The Nubian Jak Community Trust (NJCT is the only commemorative plaque and sculpture scheme focused on memorialising the historic contributions of Black and minority ethnic people in Britain and beyond.
Find out more about their work including the Black Plaque Project here.
Help Mohamud Hassan get the justice he deserves
Mohamud Hassan, 24, was arrested in his Cardiff home on Friday 8th January under the most violent of circumstances. Twenty South Wales police officers removed all occupants from the residence leaving Mohamud alone. We are attempting to raise money for funeral arrangements and legal fees. A case has been opened however to ensure justice we are also looking into opening a private case of our own.
Support here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-and-serve-justice-for-mohamud-hassan
BLM (Cardiff) have set up a Link Tree for the Mahamud Hassan Campaign – this includes Mahamud Hassan Fundraiser, Justice4Mahamud Petition, Body Cam Footage Police Petition, and a Welsh Media Report, all in one place: https://linktr.ee/blmcardiff
#Justice4MouayedBashir
On 17 February 2021, Mouayed Bashir, a 29-year old Sudanese man died after being forcibly restrained by Gwent Police at his home in Newport, South Wales.
Police arrived at Mouayed’s home after his parents called 999 when he began to experience a mental health crisis. Several vehicles and a large number of police officers attended the property.
Although not under arrest, he was placed in handcuffs and leg restraints, and subsequently died.
The family want to find out how he died, and why Gwent Police behaved like this. Then they will take action.
An inquest into Mouayed’s death was opened on Tuesday 13 July 2021 and then adjourned until July 2022. The Coroner cited the reason for the delay was due to the backlog of cases caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Support here: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/black-man-dies-under-police-restraint/
Justice for Christopher Kapessa
Christopher’s body was found in the River Cynon, on 1 July 2019, after he and others were out by the river. An initial investigation by SWP concluded that Christopher’s death was as a result of a ‘tragic accident’.
After concerns were raised, the force’s major crime investigation team was brought in. On 19 February 2020, the CPS wrote to the family stating that there was sufficient evidence to support a charge of manslaughter but that a prosecution was not in the public interest.
The family campaigned to challenge the decision and a High Court judge granted a Judicial Review on June 10th 2021.
On Monday January 24, the High Court has upheld the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision not to charge a 14-year-old boy who allegedly caused another teenager’s death.
The decision was dubbed a “painful blow” for Christopher’s family.
Support here: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/justice4christopher-kapessa/
Free Siyanda
On 25 May 2019, what started as a joyous bank holiday for Siyanda ended as a nightmare and changed her life forever. Without any provocation, Siyanda was racially abused and physically assaulted by adults much older than her.
Siyanda and her family expected the police to investigate the incident thoroughly but what they experienced was a litany of failures. To their horror Siyanda who has disabilities, was arrested and then charged with GBH, and she was convicted and sentenced to four and half years on 13 March 2020.
An appeal was dismissed by a single Judge. An onward right of appeal to the Court of Appeal has now been lodged and representation has been secured by Siyanda’s new legal defence team Virgo Consultancy Services Ltd who have retained Michael Mansfield QC to advocate on behalf of Siyanda at her appeal.
The national campaign ‘Free Siyanda‘, was launched to right the wrong and ensure that justice prevails in this case.
Support here: freesiyanda.com
Thank you all who have donated, shared, and supported.
Sue Vincent-Jones, writing as Mrs SVJ, is a Barry born journalist, editor, and communications specialist. She blogs about Barry – and her life in the wider world, through the eyes of a, quirky and queer, local girl done good.
As a founding member of Stand Up To Racism (Vale) Sue promotes the Black-led Campaign Group who, with the strong support of Allies, aim to unite our communities. She also acts as Communications Advisor for the voluntary collective.
Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), are a Black-led voluntary group, open to all who support their aims and values. Find them on:
Facebook |Twitter |Instagram, or by email at sutrvaleofglamorgan@gmail.com,
Mrs SVJ, Barry’s Boldest Blogger, can be contacted here.