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Thursday, 7 May 2009 Media Forward Notice: Wales Hope not Hate Dayby: Darron Dupre Forward Notice Wales Hope not Hate day
On the morning of Sunday 17th May, the nation will have an opportunity to commemorate our nation’s fallen, who have given their lives to protect hope and freedom against the hate of fascism.
The ‘Hope not Hate’ day is a UK-wide campaign, coordinated in Wales by anti-fascist campaign group Searchlight Cymru, and supported by the four main political parties, trade unions and faith groups.
Three events, held simultaneously in Cardiff, Swansea, and Flint, will call on communities across Wales to remember those who fought, and to continue their battle against the emerging threat of fascism in Wales in 2009.
Darron Dupre, secretary of Searchlight Cymru, and Hope Not Hate organiser, says that the politics of fascism affects us all.
“The fascists in Wales may have exchanged their swastikas for a nice suit and a big smile, but their culture of blame is unmistakeable,” says Mr Dupre.
“Groups like the BNP thrive on the blame culture; pointing their fingers at easy targets and tell us that life will be better if we sign up to their lynch mob mentality.
“Unfortunately for them, we are a nation of questioning people, who understand that our most significant political and social advances have been achieved when communities put aside their small differences and work together.
“Above all, this is about hope for our futures,” he says.
The Hope Not Hate event is supported by all main stream political parties in the National Assembly for Wales. A joint statement issued by Presiding Officer, Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas AM – together with lead Assembly Members, Mike German AM, Mark Isherwood AM, Huw Lewis AM and Leanne Wood AM - reads:
“Whatever the nuances of mainstream politics, we all agree that Wales is a nation of proud people, who have fought throughout the centuries to secure the freedoms that we enjoy today.
“The path we walk as a nation in this century was laid by those who believed in hope, and made the ultimate sacrifice against hate, and the spread of fascism, tyranny and oppression, in all its forms.
“On Sunday 17th May, we have an opportunity to commemorate the memories of our fallen, and declare with one voice that their struggle of hope, not hate, is one that we, as a nation, will continue to honour.”
See www.searchlightcymru.org.uk for further details on Hope Not Hate events in Wales.
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Hope Not Hate commemorations To be held simultaneously at the main cenotaphs in Swansea (seafront), Cardiff (Cathays) and Flint.
10.30am Assemble at the cenotaph 10.40am Reading of 100 names of those who fell in World War 2 10.55am Laying of wreaths “Remembering those who fought fascism. Their fight continues today”. 11.00am Two minutes silence 11.05am A short number of short speeches by ‘Hope not Hate’ representatives 11.30am Finish
The commemoration will be repeated an hour later at the Cardiff Spanish Civil War International Brigades Memorial, Cardiff.
Contacts: General and Flint co-ordinator: Darron Dupre 07971 688459 Swansea co-ordinator: Ian Titherington: 07970 057821 Cardiff co-ordinator: Rob Griffiths 07790 884137
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