Latest members’ activities
- 24 November 2015 – Rejoinder to the reply by Swedish Minister of Culture A coalition of anti-racism organisations have published a rejoinder to the reply by the Swedish Minister of Culture and Democracy, Alice Bah Kuhnke, to the #SwedenforAll anti-racism initiative. It was published in the newspaper Aftonbladet-> http://www.aftonbladet.se/debatt/article21821445.ab]. [Read the rejoinder
- 24 November 2014 – Black Pete party scrapped in Sweden Sweden’s Afro-Swedish National Association wrote to the Dutch embassy in Stockholm earlier this month to protest against a party planned on its premises on November 30th, at which the character was set to appear. Zwarte Piet was due to arrive at the embassy following a public boat ride from Djurgården to Slussen in Stockholm. Swedes with African heritage alongside anti-racism campaigners across Europe argue that the idea promotes offensive stereotypes of black people. “We respect the feelings and opinions of different groups…and will not portray Piet as a black painted helper anymore,” it said in an online statement.
- 19 August 2014 – ‘Racist’ theatre project pulled from Swedish festival over ‘blackface’ claim following action by National Association of Afro-Swedes A theatre workshop aimed at fostering “a greater understanding of discrimination” has been pulled from a Swedish city festival programme after anti-racism campaigners accused it of offensive, racist ‘blackfacing’. With Other Eyes, by the Danish theatre group Global Voices, uses make-up artists to change participants’ race and gender, allowing them to “see the world from a new perspective”. The project was cancelled after Jallow Mamadou, Chairman of the National Association for Afro-Swedes, handed a 240-signature petition condemning the workshop to the festival organisers.
- 4 July 2014 – ENAR Vice-Chair Jallow Momodou at Rainbow/PUSH coalition annual conference Momodou shared his compelling stories and the lack of recognition of PAD & BE with Rev. Jackson, Rainbow PUSH Coalition leaders and members of the press during the organization’s recent annual conference in Chicago, citing amongst other things the important advocacy efforts in which ENAR has been engaged in challenging the EU to adopt a European strategy for social inclusion of PAD & BE. Rev. Jackson said the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition will work with Momodou and others to bring such violations of civil and human rights to the attention of the European Union and the political leadership of Sweden.
- 21 March 2014 – Malmö municipality conference about racism in collaboration with CMR and the Pan African Movement for Justice The Pan African Movement for Justice and the Center against racism (CMR) will take part to a whole day Conference organised by the Malmö municipality with several seminars, panel discussions and activities to mark International Day Against Racial discrimination. The conference aims at increasing the knowledge of the mechanisms underlying racist and discriminatory acts and at contributing to tolerance between people of Malmö. Date and venue: 21st March in Malmö.