Anti-racism marches across Europe

Thousands of people in cities across Europe marched to protest against xenophobia, racial and religious discrimination and in support of refugee and migrant rights during the UN’s European Action Week Against Racism, (17 to 25 March).

In the UK, demonstrators in London marched against the rise of the far right and the associated surge in racially motivated hate crimes, carrying placards reading “Migrants and refugees are welcome here” and “Stop racist attacks”.

In Vienna, several thousands came out to march against racism carrying banners reading “Mute Racism” and other messages.

Austrians were protesting a few months after the Austrian far-right Freedom Party entered into a coalition government with the conservative People’s Party. The Freedom Party campaigned for tougher immigration controls and quick deportations of asylum seekers whose requests are denied.

In France, thousands of people marched to protest against police brutality towards migrants and for the better treatment of those without papers. This comes after a recent study has shown that some migrants living rough in Paris claim they have suffered physical and sexual violence from French citizens as well as police brutality.

In Athens, hundreds of Greeks took to the streets chanting, “open the borders” and carrying other messages on banners in protest against racism and EU policy on migration.

And in Poland, hundreds of people staged protests in Warsaw and other cities against rising racism and anti-Semitism in social media and public discourse in the country.

The annual event marks the anniversary of the murder of 69 anti-apartheid protesters in South Africa on 21 March 1960, later called the Sharpeville Massacre, which was recognised by the UN as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1966.

Caption: Protesters holding placards & posters at a demonstration in London, UK, as part of the United Nations European Action Week Against Racism , 17th March 2018.