Race Equality organisations write to the PM asking him to consider the racial disproportionality in the government’s response to COVID-19

ROTA PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday 17 April 2020

Race Equality organisations write to the PM asking him to consider the racial disproportionality in the government’s response to COVID-19

A coalition of 21 race equality organisations (collectively known as CORE) have written to the Prime Minister expressing their concerns over the government’s response to the COVID19 pandemic.

The members of CORE have become aware that particular groups (namely Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities) are at greater risk from the virus, and as a collective of Race Equality charities who serve the needs of this population, wished to urge the government to carry out further research and take remedial action.

The letter outlined nine key asks:

1. that ethnicity is recorded in figures for both morbidity and mortality.
2. that the government ensure that key workers such as bus drivers, refuse collectors, delivery drivers, and care workers are provided with the necessary PPE as a matter of urgency.
3. that the ethnicity of those that the police interact with is recorded, to ensure that the racial disparity that already exists around Stop and Search doesn’t continue or escalate.
4. that the government should suspend or amend the current Immigration Bill.
5. that the government seek to reduce the UK’s prison population as a matter of urgency.
6. a moratorium on all deportations and immigration detentions.
7. that the government offers IT support to lower income families and develops partnerships with the private sector to give a tablet or laptop to all those children living in poverty.
8. that proper provision of mental health services is made available to BAME communities.
9. funding that has been ringfenced for charities working to address the effects of the pandemic, should be allocated to reflect this disproportionality, ensuring that smaller race equality charities are not overlooked.

The Coalition of Race Equality Organisations (CORE) is a collective of 21 BAME non-profit organisations, including Race on the Agenda (ROTA), The Runnymede Trust, Race Equality Foundation and Voice4Change England.

As well as writing to the Prime Minster, the letter was also sent to Home Secretary Priti Patel MP; Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock; and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick.

The full letter is available to read HERE.

ENDS

For further details contact Lee Pinkerton, CORE communications officer, email lee@rota.org.uk or call on 07985 446 280.

Thank you.

Race on the Agenda, Resource for London, 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA
t: +44 (0) 20 7697 4093 e: rota@rota.org.uk web: rota.org.uk
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Voice4Change England, Kosmos Centre, 2c Falklands Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 2PT
t: +44 (0) 7485 4789 e: info@voice4change-england.co.uk web: voice4change-england.co.uk
Registered charity in England no: 1140624 and company Limited by Guarantee: 7322971