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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDr Lynn Revell<\/a> is Director of Research in the Faculty of Education at CCCU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Lynn Revell, Reader of Religion and Education at Canterbury Christ Church University, reflects on her encounter with the new Bishop of Dover at a Protest March. (Photo by L Revell)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The last couple of weeks have seen thousands of people in the UK gathering to show their outrage over the death of George Floyd. This Saturday in Canterbury, a demonstration of mostly young people marched through the high street and ended at the Dane John Park to listen to speeches against racism and hear music. On the way the protest stopped outside the main gates of Canterbury Cathedral. Not all the marchers could fit into the space before the gates but those who did were able to hear the Bishop of Dover, Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin speak about her anger at the continued existence of racism in society and her own experiences \u2018of being made to feel unwelcome\u2019. Standing on a wobbly chair and clutching a megaphone Bishop Rose was passionate about the need for people to take action where ever they could. \u2018I\u2019m not talking about throwing statues into rivers\u2019 she added \u2018that\u2019s a distraction\u2019 but doing something \u2018that will really make a difference to the way people live their lives\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her speech she spoke movingly about her belief that people who had been treated with disrespect and as \u2018though they were nothing\u2019 would behave as though they were nothing. She advocated a principled but challenging approach to fighting inequality. \u2018Where ever you hear racism \u2013 even if it\u2019s from the people you think are your friends or who are nice \u2013 call it out\u2019. The crowd cheered and waved their placards and when she broke into song \u2013 a few bars of Respect and then some Bob Marley, the crowd cheered even more. But for me it was her demand, that she made over and over again in her speech that, \u2018we call out racism\u2019 where ever we find it, that was the most provoking. I thought of the times at work, in meetings or in conversations with colleagues where I had not \u2018called it out\u2019 as clearly and as loudly as I should have done. Calling it out, always and in every situation will be difficult, especially with people who think that racism is something that happens else where, but as a plan for action it can\u2019t be beaten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDr Lynn Revell<\/a> is Director of Research in the Faculty of Education at CCCU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n