An anti-racism educational charity has issued a call for donations after a Reform UK-led council withdrew support for its annual event due to its chief executive’s publicly expressed political views.
Last week, Show Racism the Red Card announced that Sunderland City Council had ended its formal affiliation with the charity, after supporting its Wear Red Day initiative since its inception.
Wear Red Day was launched in 2014 to allow people in the UK to “demonstrate their commitment to anti-racism and stand in solidarity with individuals and communities targeted by racism”.
Show Racism the Red Card’s chief executive Ged Grebby said his charity had worked with the local authority throughout its 30-year history and called its decision not to support this year’s event “disappointing”.
Today, the charity published a call for funding as the “importance of our work is being questioned”.
“We refuse to be silenced – anti-racism education is more important than ever,” the fundraising page reads.
Council’s response
Reform UK Wearside defended the authority’s decision, which it said was not “about weakening the council’s opposition to racism or discrimination”.
“It’s about whether a local authority should formally associate with, financially support and publicly endorse a campaigning organisation whose senior leadership has itself entered political debate,” it said in a statement.
Reform UK Wearside said Grebby had previously publicly described Reform UK as a “very, very dangerous organisation” and expressed support for a Labour government.
“That’s particularly relevant when considering whether it’s appropriate for a local authority, which represents residents of all political views and none, to continue formally associating itself with and financially supporting an organisation whose chief executive has made openly political comments about the party currently entrusted with leading that authority,” Reform UK Wearside said.
“This isn’t about preventing Show Racism the Red Card from campaigning, nor is it an attempt to stop its work in Sunderland. The organisation remains entirely free to work with schools, businesses, Sunderland AFC and anybody else who wishes to support it.”
Following the decision, Grebby said on social media: “I stand by my comments on Reform UK.”
