Glasgow, UK: July 29, 2013. (Rebecca Gebauer) A Glasgow-based human rights organisation has reiterated how communal togetherness can help to combat racism in Scotland during an anti-racist protest to counteract the Scottish Defence League. Global Minorities Alliance (globalminorities.co.uk) stood in solidarity at the protest against fascism and racism organised by United Against Fascism (UAF), a political group which raises awareness and lobby against racism and fascism in the United Kingdom through various projects, campaigns and demonstrations far and wide in the UK. The United Against Fascism (UAF) called for a peaceful protest demonstration on Saturday 27th July at 11 am at Square Park, Glasgow, against the Scottish Defence League (SDL) who was intending to march through Pollokshields, the multicultural heart of Glasgow, to commemorate the birthday of Kriss Donald, a Glasgow teenager who was murdered by an Asian gang almost a decade ago. Additionally the SDL wanted to oppose Islam during the time of Ramadan. Earlier in the month, a public meeting was organized by United against Fascism (UAF) which was attended by local politicians Anas Sarwar, Member of Labour Scottish Party as well as Hamza Yousaf Member of Scottish Parliament along with human rights organizations, activists, and members of public who opposed the idea of the SDL march in such a multicultural part of Glasgow. The meeting was attended by Alliance’s Chief Executive, Manassi Bernard, as well as Shahid Khan, Vice-Chairperson of the Alliance and Shazar Khan, the Alliance’s Ambassador of Culture of Music. During the meeting Shahid Khan expressed his views about the need of raising awareness against societal prejudices and discrimination and stressed how communal togetherness can combat racism in Scotland. He also assured the full support of the Alliance on the demonstration day which was scheduled for 27th July. The protest day on 27th July was well attended by people from all walks of life that stood in solidarity with United Against Fascism (UAF). Local Scottish people led the protest while members of the ethnic minority communities also participated the event and chanted slogans against fascism and racism. According to the local police, Scottish Defense League was not able to march in Pollocksheilds as planned earlier. The Alliance’s Vice-Chairperson Shahid Khan addressed the protest demonstration and urged the multicultural citizens of Glasgow to maintain a non-violence approach during the protest and called on members of public to face this challenge of racism and fascism in Scotland as one people. He said, ““The reasons for this [prejudices] are varied and complicated but essentially boil down to this: some people simply don't like outsiders or people who are different to them. They may dress it up in fancy rhetoric about foreigners feasting upon public purse, fears about cultural change, threats to 'tradition', all fuelled by a newspaper tradition of hostility to migrants, but often when you look behind the web of words there is one more hidden word which remains: racism.” In 2011-12 the police in Scotland recorded 6,472 racist incidents. Out of this number, 44% of victims were of Asian origin, comprising Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese or other Asian, the largest group being Pakistani at 23%. Mr Khan told the demonstrators that the Global Minorities Alliance campaigns to raise the voice of minority communities around the world: “We believe that all human beings, irrespective of their colour, creed, race, religion or gender, should be treated as equals.” Mr Khan pointed out the richness and diversity of today’s Scotland which can play a pivotal role in combating racism in Scotland. He appreciated community initiative programmes like Karibu African Women’s Group registering their own tartan made up of African colours, or the International Women’s Group holding haggis tasting events in Sighthill Glasgow, or a cricket team of asylum seekers taking on the local police team in Springburn, North Glasgow. He continued: “Multiculturalism takes many forms in Scotland and is something that every Scottish person should be proud of – Scotland is a warm and welcoming place for newcomers, and is somewhere people are warm towards in return.” In 2012, racist attacks in Scotland soared by 10% as compared to 2011. The Scottish statistics make up 9% of all racist crimes in the UK, which shows the prevalence of racism in Scotland. According to Scottish police in 2012-11 the vast majority - 95% - of perpetrators were described as white. The writer is Director of Diplomatic Affairs of Global Minorities Alliance and can be reached at info@globalminorities.co.uk