LATEST LISTINGS:

Online Events

COVID19 and Racism

Tue, 19 May 2020 12:00 – 13:00

COVID19 and Racism

Zoom Webinar

Tuesday 19th May 2020, 12:00 – 13:00 British Summer Time

In association with Chinese Liberal Democrats

About the Event

Outbreaks create fear. And fear is a key ingredient for racism and xenophobia to thrive. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has uncovered social and political fractures within communities. This has resulted in racist responses. Consequently, this disproportionately affects marginalised and minority groups.

Today, and following the spread of COVID-19 from Wuhan, China, discrimination towards Chinese people has increased. This includes individual acts of microaggression to other forms of violence as well as collective forms of abuse.

Further Reading:

Targeted for being Chinese:

Covid-19 has caused a major spike in anti-Chinese and anti-Semitic hate speech

Race Hate Crimes – Collateral Damage of COVID – 19?

Event Schedule

11:55 – Participants connect to Zoom

12:00 – Opening Remarks – Moderator

Isabelle Parasram – Vice president Liberal Democrats, Trustee The Paddy Ashdown Forum

12:05 – First intervention

Dr George Lee – a former senior police officer and businessman

George will discuss how the Chinese have been perceived over the centuries: from images of Fu Manchu in Hollywood and the exclusion laws in the US, to today, in the media and on programmes such as GMTV with Piers Morgan. George will, using his extensive past experience within the Metropolitan Police and since COVID 19, illustrate the rise of hate crime in the UK. As a result, the need for the establishment of the COVID19 Anti-Racism Group (CARG). Consequently, using further examples of racism in the US and Australia George will discuss the rise of Sinophobia.

12:15 – Second intervention

Linda Chung – Chair of Camden Chinese Community Centre

Linda will take the discussion forward from causes and problems of racism to detailing further solutions and action. With comments on the role of the media, Governments and world leadership, Linda will discuss the importance in avoiding the pandemic being turned into a battle of The Rest of The World vs China. Linda will discuss the consequence of such action that will leave the Chinese diaspora communities caught in between. As a result, what that will mean to both those communities and to us all.

12:30 – Q&A

12:55 – Closing remarks by moderator

1:00 – End of Event

Speakers Bio’s

George Lee

George will discuss how the Chinese have been perceived over the centuries: from images of Fu Manchu in Hollywood and the exclusion laws in the US, to today, in the media and on programmes such as GMTV with Piers Morgan. George will, using his extensive past experience within the Metropolitan Police and since COVID 19, illustrate the rise of hate crime in the UK. As a result, the need for the establishment of the COVID19 Anti-Racism Group (CARG). Consequently, using further examples of racism in the US and Australia George will discuss the rise of Sinophobia.

Linda Chung

Chair of Camden Chinese Community Centre has considerable experience of empowering Chinese people in politics and civil society, in educating victims of crime and proposing changes in school curriculum to cover the Opium Wars and colonial history. She will comment on the roles the media, public figures and government should play in denouncing racism and the recent formation of the Covid-19 Anti-Racism Group.

Isabelle Parasram,

Vice President, Liberal Democrats (Moderator)

Isabelle Parasram is Vice President of the Liberal Democrats and a member of its Federal Board. She is also Patron of The Liberty Network and a Trustee of The Paddy Ashdown Forum think tank. She has previously stood as a Parliamentary and GLA candidate.

Professionally, Isabelle works nationally and internationally as Head of a barristers’ chambers. As an expert in regulatory compliance, she trains and advises organisations on procedural matters, including employment law, safeguarding and HR. Via her role as Special Investigation Counsel, she chairs internal Inquiries into allegations of sexual misconduct, discrimination and disciplinary breaches.

In addition to holding teaching qualifications, Isabelle is a former school governor and trustee of educational charities.

On a personal level, she was born in East London to Indo-Caribbean ‘Windrush’ parents. She and her husband have four school-aged children.

Register

More Online Events Listings MORE