 What
the YRE is
Youth
against Racism in Europe (YRE) is a campaigning international youth
organisation, active in 16 countries in Europe.
YRE
was launched by an international demonstration of 40,000 people against
racism in Brussels, in October 1992.
We
keep in touch regularly with each other about what is happening in
different countries and how we can build international campaigns against
racism.
Anti-racist
camp
In
August 1994 we organised an anti-racist camp in Germany of 1,500 young people from
all over Europe.
YRE
believes that racism isn't natural; it is something that can be
overcome through education and campaigning. Unemployment, homelessness
and poverty can all be used to encourage racism by Nazis and
politicians. Black and Asian people are a visible minority, and
therefore can easily be used as a scapegoat for social and economic
problems.
YRE
therefore donšt just say racism is wrong but use economic arguments to
convince people that blacks and Asians are not to blame for these
problems.
Economic system
We
think that the economic system we live in creates poverty, unemployment
and low wages. We campaign for the right to a job, a home and an
education for all and show that we can fight for these things best by
overcoming racism and uniting.
 YRE
also campaigns to drive Nazi groups out of our communities. Wherever
they organise we will mobilise local people to oppose them - in order to
prevent them from spreading their Nazi ideas and recruiting new members.
The
YRE was part of the successful campaign to close the British National
Party's Headquarters in South East London. We co-organised the two
biggest national demonstrations of 8,000 and 50,000 which eventually
succeeded in shutting it.
Frame-ups
We
are campaigning for justice for people who are unjustly imprisoned like
Oliver Campbell, Winston Silcott and Satpal Ram, who YRE believes are
the victims of racist frame-ups.
We
campaign against racist immigration laws, and the imprisonment of
asylum-seekers. YRE takes up individual cases of people threatened with
deportation and expose the wider injustice of the present immigration
system.
YRE
members are against all forms of discrimination. We believe everyone
should have equal rights whether they are Asian, Black or white, male or
female, disabled or able-bodied, Jewish or Gentile.
School
students
School
student members of YRE are active in combating racism both inside and
outside school. We regularly visit schools to speak with the students
about racism and fascism and what can be done about them. There are YRE
groups in different schools, in estates, towns, cities and universities.
YRE
is run and controlled by its members. We also work with a number of
other groups - from local community groups to national organisations and
trade unions.
Young
people of all races, Asian Black and white, must unite against racism.
We are the ones who have most to lose from racism and fascism, and most
to gain from their defeat. United we can win.
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