Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney.
Sinn Féin Derry MLA Raymond McCartney has today called on Racial Equality Strategy to be “urgently” put out to public consultation.
Mr McCartney said as Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness Martin McGuinness had “signed off” on the draft Racial Equality Strategy. Sinn Fein wanted to see it put out for public consultation “urgently.”
Mr McCartney added: “The strategy has been designed as a template to tackle racial inequalities in the North and to open up opportunities for all people no matter what their ethnic origins.
“It was also devised to tackle racism and hate crime and given the racial attacks and abuse over the past few weeks it is essential that we begin to implement the strategy immediately.
“We are also proposing a programme of interventions to supplement the racial equality strategy and we are bidding for resources for an ethnic minority crisis fund.
“One of the key points in the document is that leadership is needed at political, civic and community levels.
“We now need to stand together and clearly state that racism is clearly wrong.”
Mr McCartney concluded: “We have to defend the right of our minority communities to live a full life without fear of attack or intimidation.”
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