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Home Primary News Chairman’s message: George Floyd protests reveal a global appetite for social justice

Chairman’s message: George Floyd protests reveal a global appetite for social justice

The response to the shocking killing of George Floyd proves the world is now a global village.

After the senseless killing in Minneapolis last week there have been protests across America and Europe and now in London, Manchester and Birmingham. The appetite is there to fight for justice and the best aspect of the protests around the world and in the UK is that they include people of all ethnic backgrounds.

Whilst Britain may not appear at first glance to have as deep racial divides as America, we all have to be vigilant to ensure no-one from any ethnic group or religion are treated like second class citizens. Sadly statistics show in the UK BAME people are more likely to be arrested, more likely to be charged with crimes and more likely to be jailed. Hate crimes against minority communities particularly Muslims and Jews are on the rise.

Everyone must stand together to fight these trends and that is precisely why it was so refreshing to see so many people and organisations standing in solidarity with those fighting against racism and injustice.

July 11th will mark the 25th anniversary of the Bosnian genocide when in Srebrenica more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were murdered in one town over a few days just because of their identity. Thousands more were murdered in other towns across Bosnia and Herzegovina with an estimated 50,000 women raped and two million people displaced.

During the Bosnian genocide Muslims and other “non-Serbs” were also forced to wear white armbands to identify them and mark them for extermination as the perpetrators couldn’t always tell who was a Serb or a Bosnian Muslim. But ‘visible’ minorities in America, Europe or the UK are indefinitely marked out for discrimination, hate & even murder.

We must be alert against any group being victimised, whether that is because of Islamophobia, racism or antisemitism.

This year’s theme for UK’s Remembering Srebrenica Memorial Week is “Every Action Matters” and these protests against police violence in the United States exemplify how people can make their own contribution to a bigger cause.

Whether that is attending a protest in person or amplifying the message on social media. The key is to not stay silent. Not everyone can lead or attend a protest – but everyone can do something.

Every Action Matters shows that doing something, no matter how small, really can make a difference.


The late Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the Holocaust who said: “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere.

“When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the centre of the universe”.

The theme will seek to encourage every person to reflect upon their own behaviour and choices that they make, and demonstrate that however insignificant it may seem, every action matters, whether positive or negative.

It will aim to show that those who stand up and unite against hatred can make a difference.

Dr Waqar Azmi OBE
Chairman, Remembering Srebrenica

 

Jun 4, 2020Adam Smith
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June 4, 2020 NewsEvery Action Matters, George Floyd, social justice
Remembering Srebrenica's Statement of SolidarityRemembering Srebrenica virtual exhibition "Remnants of Genocide" will be unveiled for 25th anniversary commemorations
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Remembering Srebrenica Retweeted
SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
3 Mar

Don’t forget we are still recruiting for a project officer to assist us in the planning and implementation of the 26th commemoration of the Bosnian genocide. Come join our team and make a difference!

https://t.co/HdLiprf7zY

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SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
16h

We were honoured to have Fikret Alić speak about his experience of surviving the death camp of Omarska at our National Commemoration. This shocking photo continues to haunt the world & serves as a reminder of what happens when we turn our back on humanity. https://t.co/BCfEexbNXS

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SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
5 Mar

Join us on March 11th as we mark #InternationalWomensDay with a discussion on gender and genocide; throughout and post-conflict. We'll be joined by experts and survivors in what will be an insightful discussion. Save the date now. We'll be sharing more info shortly!

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OsborneTweetsPeter Osborne@OsborneTweets·
5 Mar

Two evenings that I believe will be fascinating - 29th and 30th March at 7pm. On-line unfortunately but then again if not we might not hear from Srebrenica survivor @NedzadAvdic direct from Bosnia - register by emailing goodrelations@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

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SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
5 Mar

Memorials In Bosnia Important Part In Remembering And Recognizing The Country’s History – The Organization for World Peace https://t.co/NxqcdoKZHJ

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 Latest news 
Remembering Srebrenica’s 2021 Theme: Rebuilding Lives
February 4, 2021

Every year, Remembering Srebrenica selects a theme that reflects an aspect of the genocide that must be commemorated, but also speaks to communities here in the UK.  The theme for 2021 is ‘Rebuilding Lives’.  In albeit very different ways the Covid pandemic has brought loss and difficulties to millions, shattering individuals and communities, who are […]

Hatidža Mehmedović – A mother’s legacy
November 26, 2020

Hatidža Mehmedović was born in the area surrounding Srebrenica in 1952. Before the genocide, she lived her entire life in Srebrenica, where she had married her childhood friend, Abdullah, and had two sons, Azmir and Almir. Hatidža and Abdullah built their home in Srebrenica and lived a simple life as a family before the war […]

“Untold Killing”: first serialised podcast about the genocide in Bosnia launched
October 22, 2020

London, United Kingdom — This past July marked 25 years since the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, often referred to as the worst atrocity on Europe’s soil since the Holocaust. The story of Srebrenica, a small town in Bosnia, remains a dark stain on Europe’s history and yet the full details remain unknown to many.  […]

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