Equality 10 Informed


Channelling Claudia Jones’ fire


Te radical spirit of pioneering journalist Claudia Jones was celebrated at the annual memorial lecture organised by the Black Members’ Council (BMC). “Jones organised communities of


resistance,” said Roger McKenzie, BMC co-chair, introducing the lecture and emphasising Jones’ journalistic achievements as the founder of the UK’s first Black newspaper Te West Indian Gazete and Afro-Asian Caribbean News. Held at the Guardian’s office in London on 22 October, speakers focused on learning from Claudia Jones in fighting the pervasive rise of racism and fascism following some of the largest far-right mobilisations in recent UK history. “We’ve been here before,” said Michelle Codrington-Rogers, Trades Union Congress (TUC) anti-racism lead, describing the cyclical return of white supremacy in different guises – from the National Front to the British National Party and Combat 18. Codrington-Rogers noted familiar


dogwhistles against migrants, asylum seekers, disabled people, trans people, and Black people. She challenged the far- right’s faux concern over women and girls given that Stephen Yaxley- Lennon (A.K.A. Tommy Robinson) was convicted of harassing a female journalist and that his close acolytes had commited violence against women. “Tese people do not care about


Disabled Members’ Council updates On 3 December the NUJ marked International Day of Disabled People. Te Disabled Members’ Council (DMC) called on journalists to challenge harmful portrayals of disabled people and shiſt the narrative from blame to


one centred on rights, access and inclusion. Disabled journalists have reported greater levels of harassment and abuse, and remain underrepresented throughout the industry - especially at senior levels. Te DMC expressed deep concerned at the UK government’s plan to


women,” said Codrington-Rogers. Codrington-Rogers acknowledged


the toll of fighting the far-right with politicians playing on people’s desperation, disillusionment, fear and exhaustion. Tis is compounded by government atempts to pander to Reform UK, which only serve to normalise and embolden the far- right - as demonstrated by the fact that thousands of people thought it acceptable to atend marches organised by fascists dressing racism as patriotism. Codrington-Rogers emphasised the trade union movement’s crucial role in challenging racism on the streets and in the workplaces where we organise. Guest speaker Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP


for Clapham and Brixton Hill, started her lecture by challenging activists to channel Jones’ fire. “Claudia Jones looked the empire in the eye and said, ‘I can see through you’,” said Ribeiro-Addy. Born in Trinidad, Jones was a feminist, communist and Black nationalist who insisted that anti-racism and anti-


imperialism were inseparable. Jones understood that while the British empire has formally ended, its logic and legacy persists.


So what does Jones demand of us now?


Firstly that we must stop sidelining the experiences of Black people and Black women in particular. “Diversity is the beginning, not the destination,” said Ribeiro-Addy calling for representation beyond “symbolic inclusion.” Ribeiro-Addy argued that education


is key to challenging deeply ingrained social atitudes: instead of concentrating on kings and queens, we should also learn about working class, trade union and anti-racist struggles. As chair of the All-Party Parliamentary


Group for Afrikan Reparations, Ribeiro- Addy said that we must address the legacy of empire as the root of racism and made the case for economic, educational and environmental reparations: “If we can find resources to bail out banks, I don’t understand why we can’t pay for justice.” Fighting racism must entail a union- wide effort. Aſter a Q&A, McKenzie concluded by encouraging the audience to get involved in the BMC, the NUJ and the trade union movement to fight racism. Above all we should learn from Jones, who also co-founded the Noting Hill carnival, that struggle doesn’t have to mean despair and that joy can be revolutionary.


introduce VAT on Motability vehicles that require an advance payment, which could limit disabled journalists’ ability to travel for work - particularly those who work cross-border or on assignment. Te DMC has encouraged members affected by the changes to the Motability


scheme and/or cuts to the Access to Work scheme to share their experience with the union. Member testimonies will be used as anonymised evidence in a briefing for MPs, the Work and Pensions Commitee and the public. Please contact campaigns@ nuj.org.uk to share your views.


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