#IAM2020 Southwark CLP Meeting

With a sudden change in plans Southwark Constituency Labour Party were left without a speaker just a day before their Islamophobia Awareness Month meeting. They were able to get in contact with MEND and book a speaker on such short notice.

The London Regional Manager joined the virtual meeting where 26 CLP members were present. The chair started the evening by revisiting the minutes from the last meeting to get everyone up to speed. Thereafter the MEND speaker was introduced.

Over the next 20 minutes the Mohammad Shoaib gave the audience an appreciation for the multiple definitions of Islamophobia before moving onto contemporary examples of Islamophobia in various spheres of life. In addition, he explained how to reports of Islamophobic hate crimes are increasing in all areas of the country showing this is an ever-increasing problem that needs to be addressed.

The segment concluded with 3 simple action points for the CLP members to take on. 1) To download the MEND app so they can be kept up to date with information about Islamophobia. 2) To visit the virtual exhibition on www.Islamophobia-awareness.org in order to increase their understanding about the Muslim community. 3) To lobby their political leaders (Councillors and MP’s) to do more to address Islamophobia.

The members in the meeting filled the final 10 minutes with thought provoking questions such as why Islamophobia is considered to be a type of racism and does the movement against Islamophobia not further embolden the far right.

MEND looks forward to working closely with all local political party groups in the country.