Global Anti- Blackness, China now Ukraine, it too much

[debbrianna]

It's soul destroying to watch other black people suffer in the middle of a pandemic or war where it has nothing to do with race. The videos from China was horrible. Now we are seeing the same from Ukraine. Why? We are people too. The chances of this war spread to the UK is not far off and that scares me.
We all see colour and it's annoying when people claim they don't. Evidence from around the world shows hate. I hope the black resident of Ukraine and black students trying to leave find away out. I joke they survive too. They should have the same right as everyone else who wants to leave.

By the way, don't come at me that this is not the time. It is and I am tired. We are humans too.

I see that post upthread is now deleted.
Please report these posters. Mod team do take further action against deliberate disruptors.

(Dog whistle racism took on a whole new meaning there. Wuff)

To be fair to churches there are many whose congregations regularly pray for conflicts around the world. They are informed by Barnabus Trust and Open Doors which have first hand accounts of persecution and war around in over 50 countries on all continents.

I'm sure Barnabus and Open Doors do great things. They are Christian organisations helping persecuted Christians according to their aims and objectives. I think ONE person up thread posted to make criticism of her own church regarding international conflicts.

We just want safe passage for these thousands of students to return to their home countries - regardless of race, religion or nationality..

They aren't looking for asylum, nor refugee status, nor claiming religious persecution. They just want to be treated, at the very least, the same as everyone else trying to get to safety.

It's abhorrent. To see people who look like you being beaten, punched, denied exit from a war zone in favour of White skin.

Added to that, the gaslighting ie its not the right time to talk about racism/Why are you talking about racism! Don't you know theres a war on what about (White) people being bombed? Thats the serious issue!

White centering: we dont want you to talk about racism but if you do, we want to tell you what to think, how to speak, when to speak, deny racism via a convoluted statement regarding why racism isnt really racism you know, then shut conversation down.

Its the epitome of assumed superiority based on non-proximity to Blackness.

I never forget that this board was set up following an MNer experiencing terrible racism, which included doxxing, right here on Mumsnet. Yet racists still land here with their nonsense, their utter crave to be heard by Black Women. I never address them directly as its unedifying hence to be skipped over...they wont get the attention they seek from me.

Whats happening to Black people in Ukraine didnt surprise me for a moment.

In real life I speak to nobody about Ukraine situation because if you cant "see" me then I can't "see" you so I dont need to talk about it.

Its 2022 and yet again we are harshly reminded that even in the face of war and bombs, its still important to racists to perpetuate racism that endangers lives.

Well countering anti-Black racism is just as important to us as being racist is to them. Different priorities.

Well said @DeeCeeCherry.

Change.org have a petition for equality in safe evacuation, not sure if I'm allowed to directly link, but it starts with "safe passage" and here is the summary:

"We are requesting that any government or world agency expressing solidarity with the suffering of Ukrainian citizens also acknowledge and act upon, the racism being reported by African, Caribbean, Indian and all people of coIour seeking refuge from the war.

We need to ensure that there is safe passage for everyone and this includes all people of colour."

Looks like I can't link.

Thanks for info Enough4me I hadn't heard about petition

I looked it up, and signed.

I'll try to link here also

www.change.org/p/10downingstreet-provide-safe-passage-for-africans-and-all-people-of-colour-out-of-ukraine

Your link worked @DeeCeeCherry, the votes keep going up and it helps the organiser push for attention of this outright racism.

@AppleButter

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ukraine-russia-black-refugees-b2030707.html

Just so awful. For everyone in Ukraine, but with extra, additional pain for PoC.
Still fuming that the conversation on this was shut down on MN whilst it was happening. Well it can’t be denied or hidden now.

Thank you. This was very helpful.

"On March 1, dozens of self-identified right-wing nationalists marauded through the city center of Przemysl, Poland, and harassed refugees who looked to be people of color, the witnesses said"
abcnews.go.com/International/extremists-harass-minority-refugees-arriving-poland-ukraine-witnesses/story?id=83203897

"Last year, Poland refused to let thousands of Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the country after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko forcibly expelled them from his country. Also in January, Polish contractors began erecting a 115 mile wall with a hefty $407 million price tag to deter Syrian refugees from entering their country. However, Poland has offered solidarity and aid to Ukrainian refugees, including private car rides and neatly made guest bedrooms"
fortune.com/2022/03/10/black-organizers-rescue-africans-fleeing-ukraine-racism/

@kinshasa currently listening to Iain Dale on LBC (starts at 9pm should be available on global player) who is talking about the different treatment of refugees due to their skin colour. One of his guests mentioned that Ukraine is a diverse country, like most countries in Europe, with their student population including black people and there are black Ukrainians.

@RedWingBoots. Thanks. I will catch up on global player. I must listen to that.

This is an incident talked about last night-
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/06/spanish-minister-defends-police-accused-brutality-melilla-border

The change.org petition link upthread is on 178,077 and the petition creator is encouraging people to write to their MP

"Please keep sharing the petition but we also now need as many governments and politicians as possible to support the campaign to ensure safe passage for all in the context of Ukraine but also to make sure that nothing like this happens again anywhere in the world.

Will you write to your local political representative asking them to pledge their support?"

She provides a template on the change.org page.