It will discuss how cuts will disproportionately impact on the Black communities

As Manchester City Council prepares to implement their 2nd round of cuts, Black Activists Rising Against the Cuts (BARAC) will host the 2nd community ‘Stand For Something’ conference exploring how the cuts will further disproportionately impact on the Black communities of Manchester.

The conference will discuss the ruin of social welfare programs, such as the Youth Service, the EMA, advice services, the NHS as well as ongoing issues of police relations, stop-and-search, and unemployment.

“The conference will not only discuss the consequences of the cuts but will explore what we can do together as a community to support the community,” BARAC said.

BARAC is a national campaign group created in July 2010 to challenge the disproportionate impact that the Con Dem government’s cuts in public spending will have on Black and Minority Ethnic communities and individuals.

BARAC Manchester is a network of black individuals and organisations formed for the purpose of defending jobs and services in Manchester. The organization has actively participated with anti cuts groups and campaigns with the same aims.

Colette Williams of BARAC Manchester said: “We should not ignore the fact that Manchester has been named ‘Child poverty capital of Britain’ with 25,000 children growing up in severe poverty. And as the African Caribbean descent communities along with other minority ethnic groups constitute the most acutely deprived communities, we believe that this is a much needed forum to discuss such concerns.”

The conference will be in commemoration of Malcolm X, the African American Human rights activist who was assassinated on 21st February 1965.

Speakers at the conference will include National BARAC leaders - Lee Jasper and Zita Holbourne, and local speakers such as Angela Lawrence, UKUNCUT activist Steph Pike and Carl Petch from the Fire Brigade Union.

“All the cuts come at a time when race relations has fallen off the political agenda,” said BARAC. “There has been a weakening of equality laws, huge cuts to the Equality and Human Rights Commission with little or no focus in their work on eliminating racism, the rise of the far right who are blaming migrant and black workers for the cuts made by the government and discrimination in policing and the criminal justice system.”

Colette added: “Regardless of the fact that neither Sir Richard Leese or Mike Livingstone, Director of children’s services or the 32 councillors who are up for re-election in May have not even acknowledged the request for them to attend I am optimistic that the community will use this as an opportunity to come together to demonstrate that we will no longer stand by and watch the wanton destruction of our communities through these austerity cuts.”

The conference will take place at the Powerhouse, Raby Street, in Moss Side on 18th February from 10:30am to 4:30pm.

For more information and to book, please contact Colette on 07984 359894 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .