This week met with a member of the charity Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC).
The meeting was their idea and they invited me to their office in Glasgow.
The objective of the sit-down was to discuss anti-Irish racism in Scottish football.
I had recently expressed support for their stance against the apparent racist stereotyping of the Colombian player Alfredo Morelos by Keith Jackson.
Moreover, I noted that SRtRC had also been carrying out research on anti-Irish racism.
This was a pleasing development and I communicated this to them.
When I first encountered the charity in 2008 over the Famine Song controversy I didn’t think that they were fit for purpose on the issue.
Therefore, it was with some optimism that I agreed to meet with the SRtRC person.
Given that she was relatively new to the story I gave her an empirically focused Cook’s tour of the issue and what happened to any journalist who challenged the klan.
By the time I left their office the SRtRC person knew about the targeting of Angela Haggerty and the subsequent conviction of David Limond.
You may or not be aware that Ms Haggerty featured in the Rangers Chat podcast as “Taig of the day” in 2012.
Mr Limond was sent to prison for six months as punishment for his race hate crime against Ms Haggerty.
One of the first things that we did in the office was to take these photographs.
This was the idea of the SRtRC person as it was to post them on social media and I thought no more of it.
I was then called the following morning (Tuesday) and Nicola sounded utterly stressed.
The penny arcade dropped and I knew immediately that the klan had been doing what the klan usually does when they’re called out.
She said that she had not slept the night before and that she had just been in discussion with her vice-Chief Executive.
She said his name was Paul.
Then she told me that their organisation was now “…in damage control…”
Consequently, they would be putting out a statement.
I asked to have sight of any press release that would reference me.
A short while later I was emailed a statement.
I asked if it had already been published and I was told, again by email, that it was already out there.
The tone suggested to me that the person who was the author of the statement had not been in the room with me on Monday at the SRtRC offices.
It might have been something of a joint effort, but I have no way of knowing.
Perhaps someone in the higher echelons of the charity thought it a good idea to effectively hand a victory to a baying racist mob.
My impulse is to be charitable to this organisation.
I find it admirable that they have a rather Pollyanna hope that hard-core racists at Ibrox will suddenly become enlightened about the Irish and Irishness.
However, my publisher took a more trenchant view of the situation.
Of course, he has a legitimate voice in the story as I had been asked by SRtRC to speak to them because I was the author of a book on anti-Irish racism.
In fact, while I was in the charity’s offices a person who had just read Minority Reporter had sent me a message on social media.
He is of Egyptian Scottish heritage and the analysis of anti-Irish racism within the work rang true for him.
Indeed, his opinion was that the book had great merit and deserved to be more widely read.
My Twitter timeline last night suggested that “damage control” had rather backfired for SRtRC.
The consensus seemed to be that a charity with the mission statement of addressing racism had caved into racists.
This is unfortunate as I feel that this has caused SRtRC reputational damage among those who suffer from anti-Irish racism.
I’m sure that was not their intention when they decided to carry out “damage control”.
I wish them well on their journey.
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Phil I really have to ask you how you think that there is Irish Racism in Scottish Football. I would certainly agree if the full sentence was Irish Catholic Racism. The Poundland Mob have had many Irishmen play or attempt to play football over the years . The most recent being Kyle Lafferty Billy Davis and David Healy ,probably there have been many more who wore the Hun Shurt with exceeding pride but these are the latest ones who spring to mind . On the Catholicaphobia again raising its filthy head in Norn Ireland 4 Catholic Families have been told by the Police to leave their homes as their under threat by the U V F . To my knowledge this news didn’t even make it on to the Anti Catholic BBC were this Muslims it would now be Worldwide news. I understand that you are not a Catholic and that your under no obligation ( Holiday or otherwise) to fight for Catholicism but please . You write the truth all of the time just get this fact correct once and for all . Scottish Football is not against Irishmen but is most certainly against Catholic Irishmen .
And who is this guy Paul , we should be told ?
Nothing new here Phil.
The sectarian arm of the Klan reaches all over the west of Scotland.In fact they make the KKK look like a kintergarden group.Must be terrible being a member of a group who still live in the dark ages.
Well Phil what to say , im sure that there is very little that now surprises you where the klan is concerned, nor their effect on third parties.
I suspect many an individual with less testicular fortitude than yourself has decided that discretion is the better part of valour where dealing with them is concerned.
I imagine people sat round a table and decided to draw up and release that statement. That they are the representatives of such a campaign as theirs and came to this conclusion ,not only displays extremely poor judgement on their part ,but a complete lack of genuine conviction, a self declaration that they are not fit for purpose.
Again given their cause ,that is a helluva indictment.
I will not support them ,and will be letting them know in no uncertain terms the reason why.
What an absolutely fkn awful decision. Be lucky .
what a bunch huh
Hmmn..
Sounds like there’s been some ‘direct communication’ from the Klan on how to ‘manage’ the situation…
Ah well! There are more pressing issues . Like getting mischievous Man Utd fans to stop singing about the size of a players todger.
SRTRC talk the talk and say all the right things. However, when it comes to the crunch they fail to stand tall and proud alongside their noble ethics and moral compass. One snarl from a bad man and they cower into their bunkers like frightened little children. It’s as if they have fallen into the trap of believing that racism only happens to folk who are ‘non-white’. Highly disappointed with the whole affair.
Show Racism The Red Card, except when it actually comes to showing racism the red card.
A bit like showing the red card to liquidation?
The members of the Blu Klux Klan strike again!
Really disappointed but not surprised. Often these “official” charities end up so much in the pocket of the establishment that they are more worried about how establishment will react than they are about their supposed core message. In this case they clearly think that Racism is limited to colour and not race – or more worryingly they are worried about revenge attacks from rapeepul. As with the Labour party’s compromise acceptance of the conflation of anti-zionism and anti-semitism – this lot have decided that they will take any anti- anti-irish as in itself racist. This is almost Trumpian in its stupidity – echoes of Charlottesville response that there were good people on both sides.
Very sad.
I feel no pride, to say this, just sadness:
Scottish and indeed British society as a collective seems unable to accept the Irish as
1) A recognised minority
2) A diaspora which over 150 years has faced discrimination in workplace and socially etc
The strides for equality made in england, by the Irish alongside with the peoples who draw their ancestral origins from The vast continents or Asia and Africa is encouraging.
To simply put it, then strides of those of dark skin (myself included) in Scotland in particular is stunning and a fine example of Scotland at its brilliant best.
Yet the Irish in Scotland seem that little bit left behind in matters of their right to be a distinct group and cultures associated with that.
If I were to express a love of cricket or kabbadi (2 big sports in India particularly the uniqueness of latter to the country of India) nobody would mock me.
Yet a person with Irish routes, who professes a love and interest in the great grassroots games of the GAA is mocked as a “plastic paddy”.
Going back to the crux of the matter set out in this piece. The acceptance of the hostile attitudes to the Irish and Irishness is the underlying matter that Scotland must confront and deal with…… move away from Glasgow to the outer lying areas and you will truly see what lack of acceptance is towards the Irish.
Very sad
You should have known beforehand nothing would come of this meeting after the stance they took after the game at ipox wich had everything that they are supposed to stand for and as usual it was the wrong end of the midden that it came from because you can bet you bottom dollar they would have been all over it had the same came from the CELTIC end HH
The best bigoted small country in world , the srtrc have rendered themselves irrelevant. Things are not getting any better in Scotland , I still have “rangers”supporting friends but not many …… but it is no longer possible to engaged in any sensible conversation with them around any of the contentious issues surrounding the RFC and their fans behavior , we already have enough legislation in place to deal this kind of behavior however The relevant authorities chose not to , you can however get aressted for wearing an “IRA” tee shirt , the distortion of Scottish society to accommodate these racist bigots is stunning.
This whole episode shows SRTRC as being a hollowed out organisation. A few complaints from the KLAN and they bottle it.
We can talk all day but surely when the police and s.f.a keep allowing nothing will change. Just shows that they too are up to their knees in it.
Bottle crashed, no more no less, Championing a cause is a lot different when you’re a attacked for it, maybe they should stick to somthing more conducive with a good night’s sleep.
It seems to me that SRtRC are kind hearted good people. It also seems to me that they don’t expect to be ridden rough shod over because they are in the moral high ground wrt racism.
Indeed I expect they presume to receive kind plaudits rather than rough treatment at the hands of the Bearmacht.
I don’t think SRtRC should be chastised for being softies. For not being tough hard nosed politicians. It shouldn’t be a core competence for the role.
It’s the Bearmacht who come out of all this looking typically bully boy rotten to the core. SRtRC are victims. We must sympathize with victims who are weak.
They are not being chastised for being afraid or soft, they are being chastised for not doing their job.
Dr Alisdair Galloway an alleged “Sports expert” member and trumpeter of SRTRC. Senior lecturer at UWS. Once “Censored” by the university for publishing “Anti catholic-anti Glasgow Celtic-anti Irish” video footage. Retained his job, while complaining student was forced off Sports course.
SRTRC did not want to know or help, and still allow Mr Galloway to be prominent supporter, Nil By Mouth decided not to help the student because “Our funding is due to run out”
Both organisations are littered with dark forces within
You’re obviously aware, there would be no winners if you took this further, Phil. However, your treatment has been nothing short of disgraceful. The fact that it is not unexpected is the most frustrating aspect of all.
The very fact that these bastards get away with threatening lives, intimidating all and sundry and are permitted – without sanctions – to vent their vitriol week in, week out is a damning indictment of Scottish society; in 2017, it beggars belief.
I genuinely feel for you and yours at present and I wish you all well.
Although it won’t seem like it at present, I believe that good always comes one’s way after such an attack takes place. I hope it arrives soon for you.
You deserve it.
Oh, these bold defenders of racial minorities, SRtRC.
The sheer disingenuousness of their response is sickening.
“Following the meeting, concerned members of the public highlighted a number of articles” – that’s like getting emails attacking Black Lives Matter from Steve Bannon and David Duke, and characterising them as “concerned members of the public”. These “concerned” citizens are the same people who orchestrated the hate campaign against Angela Haggerty, posted home addresses of anti-racism campaigners, and are engaged in an ongoing vitriolic and actively-endangering battle against racial equality in this country.
And the mind reels at their rebuke of calling out race-hate groups, as “labelling a group of people” – “we do not label people racist – only a person’s language and behaviour can be racist.”
Really? How reassuring to know that the Ku Klux Klan is not in fact a hate group, but merely a collection of individuals who at certain times may have given vent to certain racially-tinged forms of speech. How life-affirming to learn that the Third Reich was not in fact anti-Jewish, but merely encompassed certain individuals who – while not themselves racist, God forbid – at times expressed certains forms of language and action which were insensitive to the feelings of minorities.
How heartening to hear the good news that institutionalised racism is not only nonexistent, but – by SRtRC’s definition of racism – impossible.
What absolute craven bullshit.
Excellent comment!
SRtRC are about as effective as a chocolate teapot when it comes to sectarianism in Scotland. Let’s hope this latest shambles convinces their funders that as an organisation they are not fit for purpose.
I wonder what might be said if a football ditty was sung with the line
“up to my knees in proddy blood”
I will not continue to support a so called independent charity which does not support it’s very own purpose.
So Phil to sum things up, SRtRC invited you into their world to discuss anti Irish Racism.
In doing so I assume they were preparing to fight the good fight?
Welcome to your world, ONE threat and they did a runner, sums them up really.
I take it one of the understudies in SRtRC thought, this is a great idea to climb the greasy pole. Then they quickly realised that the boss upstairs is actually one of the Klan, this racism must stay buried in there demented culture.
Shame on them all…….
Excellent piece Phil.
In a strange way, I can sympathise with SRtRC. Their intended sentiments are sound, but they are effectively a toothless organisation. Until government puts proper, legally-enforceable legislation in the statute books, until Police Scotland enforces such legislation, they always will be as effective as a Sunday Post campaign about the unjust pricing of a cup of tea and a jam scone with creme in an Aberfeldy tearoom!
I may be wrong here, but weren’t the Saltcoats Two initially charged under Prevention of Terrorism legislation? That being the case, if any klan member were stupid enough to target SFtRC in a similar manner (and we already know the average IQ score of klan members!), then not only would they face charges similar to those that will be meted out to ISIS sympathisers, but the game would be up on a global scale, when worldwide news agencies run with such a story. Don’t laugh, but imagine that the 5th-best coach in Qatar has friends with genuine off-the-radar wealth there, or that the President of Qatar Airways was looking at sevco in some sort of £multi-million sponsorship deal, do you think they would still want to be tarnished with the image that the klan would bestow upon them?
I see they raised about £4,000 for their Help for Heroes charity – an average of 10p per head.. If they asked them to contribute a braincell each to their Help for Halfwits day, would they be able to afford to contribute? I seriously doubt it!!
So, you refer to a group of people as the ‘Klan’ and insinuate they have low intelligence and yet you think it’s a good idea for the government to enact legislation to convict them for saying those sorts of things about you and your friends. Go figure.
The very last thing this country needs is more legislation based on race to entrench bitterness on one side and a sense of victimhood on another, many of whom have no desire whatever for such protection in the first place and can see that it will cause problems of exactly the sort its supposed to cure.
I think what Phil is doing is both admirable and incredibly courageous and I respect him for that, but legislation is a backwards step and would be a disaster.
Most Rangers supporters, when you get down to it and outside of clannish football forums, are decent people who care about their society exactly the same as most Celtic fans. Sadly they don’t mix much but hey. Don’t get me wrong, I loathe rangers FC and have seen bigotry in its name first hand but that’s not the whole picture and the thought of laws – real permanent laws – being introduced to protect me from their views appals me. Jesus. Nanny states are weak and divisive.
Well, it is so entrenched in their psyche, that bigotry cannot be educated out of them. It follows, therefore, that legislature can be the only other recourse. Do you honestly believe that appeasement of their belief system is the only answer?
Rangers FC don’t exist, they expired in 2012.
A dose of common-sense. Very refreshing.
Sorry, Adrian but respectfully, I disagree.
The race relations act, passed a couple of decades before my birth, I think paved the way for a gradual change in society across the UK.
This for me, meant that the racial discrimination my grandparents and parent s first experienced when coming here from Indian Subcontinent, I did not receive the same level. Not anywhere near.
This allowed me to foster a sense of who I am, and not being told by society I’m different, allowing me to feel part of society. Nothing’s perfect.
There’s a ladder here in Scotland. And in UK. But ours is a bit different.
At the top are the white protestants, then are the others, who blend in and shut up and do their thing.
3rd is the group who seem to be pissing people off (currently Muslims and ones who grow long beards).
At the bottom is the newest group of migrants (the polish recently got promoted to “the others”.
In Scotland this is generally the same as the uk model, but theirs a special place for her Irish Catholics , especially those who are born here, they are permanently second bottom. One above the newest group but lower than rest.
BUT THIS DOESNT MATCH UP WITH MOST PEOPLE LIKE PHIL IN SCOTLAND!!
Correct it doesn’t, but why not? As subconsciously society tells its “plastic paddy” (sic)…. you are white, you speak English. Just shut up sit down say fuck all and get in with life and you can be promoted to the ” others” category.
Disagree if you will folks it’s just my take!!!
Will be interesting to see the reaction of Celtic fans and supporters the next time our players are all over the back pages of the Scottish rags wearing SRtRC t shirts. Surely there is no merit in backing an organization which is cowed by the very thing it is supposed to eradicate? Unfortunately the klan mindset will prevail while those with the power to enforce the law choose to look the other way.
Plus ça change, plus ça même chose.
Show racism The red card..Not Fit For Purpose, Fkn Poodles That’s All They Are.
SRtGL
Show Racism The Green Light ?
What chance the man in charge is a dignified gentleman ?
Mr Smith,
Well said!!
I would add that this charity appear completely gutless and this makes me sick to the stomach.
I wonder who funds them!??
I’m sorry to hear that SRtRC are such a shambolic organisation. It was my perception that they were doing some good work.
As an Irish man who lived in Glasgow for 5 years in my 20s I can attest to the anti-Irish racism you speak of. I have both experienced it and witnessed it first hand.
Keep up the good fight in addressing the bigotry in both Scottish and Northern Irish society, as they are both intertwined.
Not really surprised contacted them some years ago to ask for their input with a group of young people —- mixed nationalities, ethnicity and religion—- never received a response.
Came to the conclusion that there wasn’t enough publicity in it for them.
Contacted srtrc on couple of occasion about racism in football as we done signage for them with a company who does a lot of signage for Scottish football told them about the racism we went through at work and nothing suggested they couldn’t help ……poor
Jesus wept. What exactly is their purpose again?
The problem is there is an official refusal to recognise the issue for what it is, anti-Irish racism. As someone with an Irish name I have ‘enjoyed’ several strange meetings, one with a union official, who thought it droll to unexpectedly drop into an Irish accent (this has happened on several occasions). It too often gets caught up with anti-Catholicism… one boss also thought it ‘droll’ to ask me whether or not I minded being called a ‘fenian’. (I would be proud to be so called, if it were accurate, and not repeatedly attached to the word ‘bastard’).
I cannot imagine what the reaction would be if this were to happen to someone who was more effectively being protected by anti-racism legislation. Being a target for unwarranted and somewhat erratic outbursts of anti-Irish sentiment (a colleague once went on a rant about ‘why do Celtic fans have Irish flags. They should have Scottish ones, and the same colleague could not miss an opportunity to refer to the Provos in any discussion of terrorism or terror incidences anywhere in the world). Yes, it is everywhere, among the most apparently enlightened, who still find comfort in the Irish Joke. But it really is not funny, and ranks with casual sexism and anti-immigrant comment as among the factors which provide the breeding ground for fascism.
Good work Phil. I only hope the SRtRC folk get back on message soon.
One can only now come to the conclusion that SRtRC are indeed not fit for purpose, when the majority happily sing songs about a Klan member setting him on high and then get mightily offended when called the Klan, well just beggars belief really. I guess we can add SRtRC to the pot with our football governing bodies and Sevco as not making ant Progres this year. HH
As I remarked here, distancing yourself from a meeting into which you freely entered to discuss a difficult issue which shames Scotland and which routinely causes considerable angst really isn’t a good look. Poor from SRtRC Scotland. Very poor indeed.
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2017/09/26/show-meetings-the-red-card/
And if I may, here is my previous piece about their stance on anti-Irish racism… https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/10/13/show-irishness-the-red-card/
Indeed, the meeting was their idea.
I read through the statement from SRTRC, on the matter.
IMO it’s a cop out for them, after pressure from the klan. Now I might have got this wrong, but any reasonable person who reads your blogs, knows that when you reference “the klan”, you do not mean every paying customer on a Saturday at ibrox.
I tell you what the real underlying issue here also is with the klan. They don’t like a Scots born man to have pride in his Irish roots, and most certainly not one who moves to the Republic Of Ireland, giving his surname it’s Gaelic, and indeed original and correct spelling (hope I’m right on that).
To follow on from my previous comment on this post, this is really what gets their goat, you are Scots born, so you have to be Scottish, and British. You have to be repentant of your roots and accept that you will in certain situations, accept going to the back of the bus.
I love it when good meaning people tell me (with both parents drawing roots from Indian subcontinent), assertively
“you are Scottish” gee thank for the endorsement, I never knew that I could be Scottish until you passed me fit for the club.
Maybe I could be British?
Maybe I could be neither?
Maybe I could be internationalist?
Maybe I could be Indian? Thing is
This is the issue here phil, you are the “uppity one” and they just don’t like it. The fact you were born here and chose to adopt your ancestral land as your own and your nationality, it’s an issue and the fact that YOU call THEM out is just too much.
SRTRC have bowed to the passive majority of Scottish society, who with their storm troopers the hardcore elements of the klan have far too much sway in Scotland.
A sad day conclusion and a damning indictment. As an ethnic minority, what hope does this give me if matters were to change and they turned their dislike of radical Islam, into hatred of all brown skinned folks. I’d safely say, in terms of having a champion organisation on my side, well for that I’m up a creek.
I always believe that scots are more tolerant of ethnic minority than the English or even Welsh are.
But as a functioning democracy this is a stain on Scotland and it is to coin the phrase, Scotland’s shame. The SRTRC response only shows how bad it is.
Furthermore will their be someone else to take your place phil? Ie someone to carry on the work to address anti Irish racism, presumably and Irish man or woman with experience and links of Scottish life?
Knuckle draggers