Events

Anti-racism event celebrates all cultures

18 August 2007

An event organised by Show Racism The Red Card celebrated the multi-culturism of North Tyneside.

The festival, held at Wallsend Sports Centre, aimed to educate people about different cultures, races and ethnicities through various foods, music, dances and football.

Elected mayor of North Tyneside, John Harrison, said: "It's very positive, it's so important to us in the north east to celebrate our community cohesion. Through tolerance and understanding we cannot only make Wallsend a better place but also the whole of North Tyneside a better place."

Those attending were treated to a demonstration by professional football freestyler Mr Silky Skills, Bollywood dancers, Zulu poetry, hip-hop workshops and urban circus Super Fly Rico.

Rico Dakk, one performer from Super Fly Rico, said: "It's good to see people working on the issues we see everyday - such as bullying and racism. It's something that transcends all barriers in society. We need to fight racism and we need to make sure that everyone knows racism is not acceptable."

Joint organisers for the day, Wallsend Boys Club, also took part in the festival. A select 11 from the club played a Show Racism the Red Card 11, with the match ending 1-1. The football continued with a junior girls five-a-side tournament. A panel of football coaches, members of Show Racism The Red Card, Mr Harrison and members of the community answered questions from the crowd about racism and how it is being tackled on North Tyneside.

The event's organiser, Sarah Soyei, said: "The whole idea is to bring young people and adults alike together to celebrate diversity and learn what it means to live in a multi-cultural society."

The event culminated in a prize draw and the release of thousands of helium filled balloons.

Source: North Tyneside Today - News Guardian