Anti Racism Network {ARN}

antrim | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Monday May 17, 2004 09:27 by Davy Carlin carlindavid at hotmail dot com

Update of activism by activists

A few ARN events held recently

The first West Belfast ARN group {Falls Rd} {WARN!} now firmly established held its first local public meeting - social event ,in West Belfast. Speakers included Roden Street community Development group, Belfast Travellers Support Group, Representatives from the Filipino community and ARN amongst others.

Held on a Saturday afternoon it was attended by over one hundred and fifty persons from the local area and surrounding workplaces, as well as those who use the community facitities.. Almost half those there where from minority ethnic backrounds. Filipino, Chinese, African, Traveller, Indian, etc. Also persons from various solidarity campaigns where there, Ireland Palestine, Cuban, Columbian, Refugee, etc as well as persons from Argentina, Boliva and other such areas.

They where joined with local residents, trades unionists and workers from the local Royal Victoria Group of hospitals, and other community workers and trade union activists from around the locality. All in all it was an excellent event and a good diverse turnout. Like Mayday when over 100 persons joined the ARN many again joined the local WARN! group.

For me the event was held on the road {Falls Rd} which I was raised as a child {pre school} from the mid seventies through to the early eighties. Yet on seeing the venue brought back also other memories, the venue was held at the end of a street named -Genoa street.

Also a few days prior the North Belfast ARN met to firmly establish itself with up to 30 local community, trade union and minority ethnic activists meeting in the Indian community centre. Again a grassroots and activist based group from the locality. Again the ARN is about attempting to empower communities to respond from the grassroots within the community.

Other branches, groups and networks of the ARN continue to be established around the North with an upcoming meeting with Residents against Racism to be held in Belfast at the end of the month. We are also to host a march in June in support of Refugees, details to follow. Anyone looking information can contact antiracism_ni@hotmail.com