We stand in solidarity with Marcus Rashford MBE, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho and are a co-signatory in a TUC letter to the Professional Footballers Association
During the European Cup 2020, many of us saw how sport can offer hope and play a key role in connecting communities. In the blink of an eye, we also saw what happened when three courageous young football players, Marcus Rashford MBE, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho, missed their penalty kicks. Immediately online each player was subjected to abhorrent racist abuse. Bukayo Saka (only just 19) said as soon as he missed the penalty he 'knew instantly' the abuse he would face. And, the defaced mural of Marcus Rashford, showed us in plain sight that racism exists around every corner.
The racist abuse they have experienced is a clear reminder of what racism and inequity looks like, and that we all have work to do.
In solidarity with the the Marcus Rashford MBE, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho, NSEAD is a signatory in a TUC letter to the Professional Footballers Association. The letter calls out racism and is a rallying call for every union to be actively anti-racist:
'The disgusting and shameful racist abuse that was directed at your members has no place in society or the workplace.
'There is no more important priority for our trade union movement today than to do whatever it takes to stand up against racism and to secure racial justice at work. Wherever and whenever racism exists, wherever the conditions exist which enable racism to flourish, we must be ready to act and to call it out. But we need to do more than speak out – we must also make a difference.'
Download the letter, co-signed by Michele Gregson general secretary, here.