Community fun day planned to celebrate Llanelli’s welcoming and warm spirit

Local and Welsh groups unite, to put on a ‘fun day’ celebration of the town’s diversity and multiculturalism’
Llanelli organisations, faith groups, trade unions and individuals (with the support of Welsh national organisations) are hosting a community fun day on Sunday the 8th October, at the Lliedi Suite in the Selwyn Samuel Centre, with activities taking place from 12-4pm. The event is called Llanelli Unites.
The organising committee says:
“This fun day will be a celebration of everyone in Llanelli that makes the town a welcoming place”
“We have made sure this event is free to attend and appealing to all ages. We have entertainment including sports, music, face painting and international food”
“Alongside this we have arranged opportunities for attendees to understand more about welcoming diversity in Llanelli and to find out how they can be more involved in activity to promote diversity and challenge discrimination”
Llanelli Unites is a one off event called in response to the negativity and fear that has sadly spread through Llanelli as a result of the anti-migrant protest that has been permanently camped at the site of the Stradey Park hotel since early July.
The anti-migrant protesters and far-right agitators have been spreading a message of fear and suspicion, which we hope to tackle through a positive and forward-looking event.
Steve Kelshaw, a Llanelli local involved in Llanelli Hope Not Hate,
says:
“The Llanelli Unites fun day has been organised by Llanelli people for Llanelli people.

“We want to celebrate the positive and generous spirit of our town. Anyone who has been feeling sad or disheartened or fearful to speak out lately, come along and join in the fun and celebrate”.
“We will have all sorts of information and activities about tackling racism, about refugees and the asylum process, and you can find out how you can help our new neighbours feel at home when they arrive, as well as fun activities for children and families”.
Please come along and rediscover all the great things about Llanelli.”
Vidya, a founding member of Llanelli Stand up to Racism says:
“There is a song in the musical South Pacific called ‘You have to be carefully taught’ it says:
“You’ve got to be taught to hate, it has to be drummed in your dear little ear. You have to be taught to hate all the people your relatives hate”
This is true, but why? Racism for example was invented to justify slavery, it was developed to justify empire and now we are being taught to hate those arriving on small boats.
We are taught these things to cover the tracks of those really responsible for climate chaos, war, famine, poverty and homelessness. It’s a divide and rule tactic that comes from above
On the ground we are diverse but we are also united, let’s celebrate our diversity on Oct 8th and let’s show the world that in Llanelli and Wales we will always keep a welcome”
A University College Union (UCU)spokesperson from Llanelli says:
“We know that racism serves to fracture our collective power by turning working people against one another.”
Tim, Secretary of the Llanelli Rail Strike Commemoration Committee which has organised many events in Llanelli says:
“The 1911 Llanelli Rail strike was another example of solidarity and unity among workers”

“We want to see that same spirit on October 8, when people of different ages, ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations come together to show that we are an anti-racist town that welcomes all who come to live here.
The town was built on immigration, as people from all over the world came to work here, to live and feed their families. That spirit is still alive here, as we will show on 8 October as we welcome all who value diversity and inclusion to come and join us for a day of music, poetry, talks and food. It’ll be a great day!”
Cerith Griffiths, Executive Council Member for the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in Wales said:
“The current Westminster government know that they’re on a hiding to nothing at the next election and are using the age-old distraction technique of blaming others for the desperate state of the country.”
“The people being blamed this time around are refugees and those fleeing war and persecution. We all need to come together and show those that are seeking sanctuary are in absolutely no way to blame and the value that they will bring to communities.”
“I’m proud that the Fire Brigades Union will play its part in doing this and would urge all to come along and support this event.’”
The General Secretary of PCS Mark Serwotka from Wales says:
“The UK government is stoking fears, division and hostility in our communities, but they’ll fail in Llanelli, just like they failed in Weymouth.
“If the UK government was serious about resolving the refugee issue, it would support our Safe Passage policy.”
“Our policy, which has been backed by more a dozen unions, would allow refugees to enter the UK safely and begin their asylum claim, would see greater investment in the Home Office to ensure our members have the time, space and resources to do their work effectively and humanely, and

reform immigration detention centres so refugees are helped rather than punished.”
The Romany and Traveller Social Work Association says:
“Our association stands in solidarity alongside all refugees and those seeking sanctuary in Wales. We stand against those who, through words and actions, sow the seeds of hate”
Lord Peter Hain former Secretary of State for Wales says:
“Llanelli campaigners have fought a brave campaign standing up against injustice and inhumanity by confronting racists and fascists malevolently and ruthlessly exploiting local people. We will continue to defy them in honour of a town with a proud history of solidarity with workers and civil rights”
The event is being supported by the following organisations:
• ● Stand Up To Racism Llanelli • ● Hope not Hate Llanelli
• ● Llanelli Fair Trade
• ● Asylum Justice
• ● Race Alliance Wales • ● Wales TUC
• ● Race Council Cymru • ● City of Sanctuary
• ● Black Lives Matter Wales
• ● EYST
• ● Zero Racism Wales
• ● Swansea Asylum Seekers Support

• ● Care4Calais
• ● Swansea City of Sanctuary
• ● African Community Centre
• ● CETMA
• ● Victim Support Hate Crime Team
• ● FBU • ● NEU
• ● PCS
• ● Unison Black Members
• ● NUJ Wales
• ● 1911 Rail Strike Commemoration Committee
• ● Love Music Hate Racism Llanelli
• ● The Romany and Traveller Social Work Association
• ● REACHOUT Filming and photography opportunity:
LOCATION: The Lliedi Suite, Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli, Sunday the 8th of October, 12-4pm. There will be some representatives from the above organisations and more available for interview.
For more information please contact: llanelliunties@gmail.com
Steve Kelshaw is available for further information on 07907052972

Please email us for contact details of above organisations