Latest news with #prejudice
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Racism and Northern Ireland
Sir, – I have just returned home to Northern Ireland from a funeral in Dublin today of a dear friend of my wife who also passed away only a couple of weeks ago. I met some delightful young people who were appalled at the racial prejudice shown on our streets in the past week. They are aware of course of similar incidents in the Republic. I find that our future is in good hands with the positive attitude of these young people in rejecting racism in all its forms. I'm in my 80s and have witnessed Northern Ireland before the Troubles. READ MORE My wife and I raised three delightful children during those times and am now experiencing the aftermath of the peace process. The people who are being abused, as we know, are fleeing from hatred and violence to seek refuge in our beautiful country. We should be privileged with their choices. Unfortunately, our political leaders from both sides of our divide have shown poor leadership in confronting the events of the past week. I fully support the PSNI but they have not had their finest hour. Our leaders on both sides of the Border need to show solidarity in finding a resolution to this serious problem. – Yours, etc, GERRY MCQUILLAN, Saintfield, Co Down.
LBCI
08-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Leo, the first US pope, criticizes nationalist politics at Sunday Mass
Pope Leo criticized the emergence of nationalist political movements on Sunday, calling them unfortunate, without naming a specific country or national leader. Leo, the first pope from the U.S., asked during a Mass with a crowd of tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square that God would "open borders, break down walls (and) dispel hatred." "There is no room for prejudice, for 'security' zones separating us from our neighbors, for the exclusionary mindset that, unfortunately, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms," said the pontiff. Reuters
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
'Prejudice against travellers is still shocking'
"Prejudice against Gypsies and travellers is one of the last bastions of racism that is still widely acceptable within society," says Martin Rone-Clarke. His job is to "break down barriers" between Gypsy, Roma and traveller communities and Warwickshire Police - and he says he is passionate about challenging prejudice. "It is encouraging to see the significant changes in [police] engagement," he said. He is urging people to "come and say hello" to members of travelling communities during roadshows in Warwickshire and the West Midlands later this month. Mr Rone-Clarke said he became fascinated with the history and culture of travellers' ways of life while working as a community cohesion officer two decades ago. He took up the liaison job five years ago, after retiring from his 29-year career as a police officer with the Warwickshire force. "It is still somehow widely acceptable to use derogatory language against Gypsies and travellers which is shocking," he says. "I am proud to be one of few Gorgers (non-travellers) who are members of the Gypsy, Roma Traveller Police Association." He said, at the start of his career, he had no training to educate him on "the reality of who Gypsies and travellers are". "Like the majority of the general public, I only saw the negatives," he said. Meeting members of the community changed his view and deepened his understanding, he explained, since he had never previously spoken to individuals other than when carrying out enforcement. "I never got to share a cup of tea in a spotless caravan," he said. "I had no idea that so many have to mask their ethnicity in order to succeed and avoid persecution. "If I had the knowledge and understanding that I now have, my perception and response would have been very different." He said officers were now encouraged "to look at things differently, to go on to sites and engage with the community". "I am pleased that in Warwickshire we are seeing some of those changes take place," Mr Rone-Clarke added. He said levels of crime and antisocial behaviour were "no different within the Gypsy, Roma traveller communities than any other community". He added: "I'm often asked, 'how do we engage with Gypsies and Travellers?' My answer is always, go and speak with them - bring an open mind, and take it from there." The roadshows are happening n Walsall, Rugby, Warwick, Bedworth, Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon and Bidford-on-Avon between 16-27 June. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Seven arrested after police raid traveller site Town set for start of traditional horse fair Police watchdog to review Traveller dispersal case Are there too many van dwellers in Glastonbury? Warwickshire Police
Khaleej Times
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Leo, the first US pope, criticises nationalist politics at Sunday Mass
Pope Leo criticised the emergence of nationalist political movements on Sunday, calling them unfortunate, without naming a specific country or national leader. Leo, the first pope from the US, asked during a Mass with a crowd of tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square that God would "open borders, break down walls (and) dispel hatred." "There is no room for prejudice, for 'security' zones separating us from our neighbours, for the exclusionary mindset that, unfortunately, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms," said the pontiff. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis as leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church. Before becoming pontiff, Prevost was not shy about criticising US President Donald Trump, sharing numerous disapproving posts about Trump and Vice-President JD Vance on X in recent years. The Vatican has not confirmed the new pope's ownership of the X account, which had the handle @drprevost, and was deactivated after Leo's election. Francis, pope for 12 years, was a sharp critic of Trump. The late pope said in January that the president's plan to deport millions of migrants in the US during his second term was a "disgrace." Earlier, Francis said Trump was "not Christian" because of his views on immigration. "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian," Francis said when asked about Trump in 2016. Leo was celebrating a Mass for Pentecost, one of the Church's most important holidays.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
'Prejudice against travellers is still shocking'
"Prejudice against Gypsies and travellers is one of the last bastions of racism that is still widely acceptable within society," says Martin Rone-Clarke. His job is to "break down barriers" between Gypsy, Roma and traveller communities and Warwickshire Police - and he says he is passionate about challenging prejudice. "It is encouraging to see the significant changes in [police] engagement," he said. He is urging people to "come and say hello" to members of travelling communities during roadshows in Warwickshire and the West Midlands later this month. Mr Rone-Clarke said he became fascinated with the history and culture of travellers' ways of life while working as a community cohesion officer two decades ago. He took up the liaison job five years ago, after retiring from his 29-year career as a police officer with the Warwickshire force. "It is still somehow widely acceptable to use derogatory language against Gypsies and travellers which is shocking," he says. "I am proud to be one of few Gorgers (non-travellers) who are members of the Gypsy, Roma Traveller Police Association." He said, at the start of his career, he had no training to educate him on "the reality of who Gypsies and travellers are". "Like the majority of the general public, I only saw the negatives," he said. Meeting members of the community changed his view and deepened his understanding, he explained, since he had never previously spoken to individuals other than when carrying out enforcement. "I never got to share a cup of tea in a spotless caravan," he said. "I had no idea that so many have to mask their ethnicity in order to succeed and avoid persecution. "If I had the knowledge and understanding that I now have, my perception and response would have been very different." He said officers were now encouraged "to look at things differently, to go on to sites and engage with the community". "I am pleased that in Warwickshire we are seeing some of those changes take place," Mr Rone-Clarke added. He said levels of crime and antisocial behaviour were "no different within the Gypsy, Roma traveller communities than any other community". He added: "I'm often asked, 'how do we engage with Gypsies and Travellers?' My answer is always, go and speak with them - bring an open mind, and take it from there." The roadshows are happening n Walsall, Rugby, Warwick, Bedworth, Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon and Bidford-on-Avon between 16-27 June. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Seven arrested after police raid traveller site Town set for start of traditional horse fair Police watchdog to review Traveller dispersal case Are there too many van dwellers in Glastonbury? Warwickshire Police
