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Glasgow anti-racism campaign aims to reclaim Saltire flag

Drumchapel anti-racism campaign aims to reclaim Saltire flag <i>(Image: GordonTerris)</i>
Drumchapel anti-racism campaign aims to reclaim Saltire flag (Image: GordonTerris)
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An anti-racism campaign has relaunched for it's third year in a bid to reclaim the meaning of the Saltire following recent displays.

Politicians, community leaders and school children came together at Drumchapel Community Centre on Friday, October 3, for the launch of a month-long campaign called Hope not Hate.

Led by G15 Thriving Places, the third incarnation of the organisation's anti-racism campaign has been designed to re-establish the meaning of the Saltire flag by placing it in the centre of a display.

A wall of flags have decorated the community centre each of which represent a country where a resident of Drumchapel has migrated from.

Organisers, Michelle Donaldson, Ted Scanlon and Tracy Forrester.(Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times)

Ted Scanlon, one of three community development workers at the centre, says they felt they needed to do something bigger this year in response to recent racial tension.

He said: " We’ve seen all these flags go up across Glasgow so we decided to put all these flags up with the Saltire in the middle just to show that the Scottish flag is not a racist flag.

"It belongs to the people of Scotland and the people of Scotland are a welcoming people and they want people to come here and feel this place is their home.

"There's at least one person from each one of those countries that those flags represent in Drumchapel."

Flags inside the Drumchapel Community Centre.(Image: NQ)

As part of the Hope not Hate campaign the community workers have been organising visits to local schools where they conduct an activity with the children called the Human Library.

The group bring a asylum seeker, refugee or newly integrated resident to share their story of their journey to Drumchapel.

The children are then given the floor to be able to ask any questions they wish.

Andy Lynch, from Drumchapel Community Council says further investment is needed into the area to

He said: "Drumchapel is a welcoming place to live and work. There is no doubt we have our problems that seem to be ever existent, such as poverty and health issues.

"If you look around all the areas, you will see an abundance of vacant and derelict land that used to house thousands of people and schools for their children attended.

"Local housing associations have limited funds to build more homes for rent, and we now have a very extensive waiting list that needs to be addressed.

"Unfortunately, this creates animosity and divisions amongst local folk and people look to blame others, such as asylum seekers and new Scots. Which is absolutely misleading and misinformation."

(Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times)

(Image: Supplied)

At the launch event today, songs were performed by Drummore Primary School, Fortune Works, Antonine Court and the Good Vibes Choir.

In addition, pupils from Drumchapel High School's anti-racist society put together a presentation on what they have been doing within their school.

Further to this, a football tournament and a Ceilidh are set to take place over the next few weeks.

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