250 Jewish and Muslim women launch campaign against racism
The group pledged to confront racism together at an event attended by Rachel Riley and Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick
Some 250 Jewish and Muslim women have pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder against racism at an event attended by Rachel Riley and Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick.
The group launched their new #ActiveAllies campaign at an annual conference hosted by the Jewish and Muslim women network Nisa-Nashim at the University of Westminster on Sunday.
Delegates vowed to encourage and enable Jewish and Muslim women to speak out about hatred against the other faith group and against all other women.
Among the list of pledges, they committed to urging political parties to review their processes for preventing and dealing with allegations of Islamophobia and antisemitism.
The group held a vigil held for the victims of attacks in Christchurch and Pittsburgh, with delegates praying together and performing a song featuring lyrics in Hebrew, Arabic and English.
The Met Police commissioner told delegates: “It’s important to celebrate what we have in common.
“It’s important to recognise differences and respect them. And it’s important to work together for a better future.
“I believe that as citizens we all need to challenge the casual nastiness that there is around at the moment, celebrate the successes and shout about the positivity.”
Other speakers included London Deputy Mayor Debbie Weekes-Bernard and Hope Not Hate’s Jemma Levene.
Nisa-Nashim’s co-chairs Laura Marks OBE and Julie Siddiqi said: “For too long in both of our faiths communities we have seen insular thinking when it comes to tackling hatred.
“The time for talking is over, now it’s time for us to take united action together.
“The devastating attacks on innocent people in both Pittsburgh and Christchurch have strengthened our resolve and we commit to be #ActiveAllies.
“It’s not enough, nor is it right, to only stand for ourselves. We are in this together, as Jewish and Muslim sisters, especially when the hatred is targeted at women.”
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