UK University Bans White People from Attending 'Anti-Racism' Meetings
University of Sheffield becomes second British college to introduce racist ban
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The Student’s Union at the University of Sheffield has made a controversial move to ban white people from attending its "anti-racism" meetings.
The British university has become the second in the UK to introduce such a ban in the space of a month.
According to a report by The Sheffield Tab, the union claims that banning white students is part of its effort to shift from a “non-racist to an actively anti-racist” organization.
The union announced two focus group meetings by calling on students to share ideas and experiences.
“Please note that these sessions are only open to black and minority ethnic (BME) students,” a press release from the group states.
Apparently, being an anti-racist organization means blocking white students who wish to attend their meetings.
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The decision to hold meetings that are only open to black and ethnic minority students triggered fury online.
One person wrote: "'We will be actively anti-racist' also 'no white people allowed'. You couldn't make it up."
Another said: "I am reporting Sheffield Union to the hate crime commission on the basis of racial discrimination."
While a third said: "Will @amnesty call out this #racism by the University of Sheffield Students' Union? White students not welcome at the focus groups on 'how we can create an anti-racist Students' Union'."
It is believed the union intends to be more direct in challenging racist language and acts on campus.
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This isn’t the first time that a university-sanctioned event in the UK has openly excluded white people from participating.
Last month, another "anti-racist" conference at Edinburgh University was slammed for "blatant racism" after it banned white people from speaking and only allowed "people of color" to access certain areas.
The Scottish university came under fire for hosting the "Resisting Whiteness 2019" event, which was organized by the group QTPOC - Queer and Trans People of Color.
QTPOC set up two "safe space" areas at the event - one of which blocked white people from entering.
An "anti-#racist" conference in the UK has been slammed for "blatant #racism" after it banned white people from speaking and only allowed "people of color" to access certain areas.
— Neon Nettle (@NeonNettle) October 1, 2019
READ MORE: https://t.co/uMt5ICUpT2
#ResistingWhiteness2019
The event’s blurb stated that organizers will "not be giving the microphone to white people during the Q&As."
“If you are a white person with a question, please share it with a member of the committee or our speakers after the panel discussion,” the event’s promotional material reads.
