Activists making a difference in lockdown Wales
AT A time when the UK has been subject to some of the most stringent restrictions seen in its recent history, progressive social movements have come to the fore.
The UK-wide lockdown has been put in place since March 23 but that hasn’t stopped activism making a huge impression in Wales.
From the Black Lives Matter movement and transgender protests, Wales has seen an influx of prominent new activists who have taken matters into their own hands fighting for equality.
Among them is Bianca Ali. The 28-year-old, from Canton, Cardiff, has become a key figurehead in the Black Lives Matter movement, speaking at the peaceful protest that took place on June 6 at Bute Park.
The protest – sparked by the killing of George Floyd who died after a US police officer knelt on his neck – saw a variety of speakers and nearly 2,000 protesters.
“The power of social media has allowed us to find out what’s happened on the other side of the world in five minutes,” Bianca said.
“The George Floyd situation, within an hour, the whole world knew about it.
“If we hadn’t reacted it would have been another murder under systematic racism kept quiet.”
Lockdown restrictions have given people more time, Bianca says, helping the movement in Wales.
“I think a lot of people would have been busy with normal, everyday life. I don’t think the amount of people backing the movement would have have been possible if it wasn’t for lockdown.”
A spokesperson for the Black Lives Matter movement in Cardiff and the Vale, Bianca has described the support as “overwhelming”.
“I’ve never been a part of something so historic and moving in my life it was very overwhelming.
“It was a very emotional day, I was overwhelmed with pride because it was such a peaceful protest. The march wasn’t planned, it just happened on the day. The amount of people that marched together in solidarity and stood together, it was so moving.”
When met with criticism from people condemning the protests taking place during a pandemic, Bianca describes racism as the “bigger virus in the world”.
“Can you please tell me a better time for equality? I understand that there is a pandemic going on at the moment but there’s a bigger virus in this world, and that is racism.”
Another of South Wales’ emerging activists is Shash Appan.
The 23-year-old is a trans activist based in Cathays and one of the organisers and speakers at the recent trans protests that took place.
She is also a member of the Welsh LGBT+ BAME activism group, Glitter Cymru.
“I feel the trans community felt despondent. It was more to show, as a community, we have each other and we can lean on each other during these trying times,” Shash said.
“We get a lot of representation on cis gay people all the time now, and we don’t seem to have that kind of thing with trans people, even people of colour within the LGBT+ community”.
Shash believes the lockdown has given people the time to educate themselves on marginalised communities that they may have ignored.
“I feel like it’s given us a lot of allies, a space to educate themselves to an extent. Obviously we’re in a society with a nine-to-five week, 40 hours a week thing. It doesn’t leave much room to educate yourself on issues that affect marginalised people.”
The show of support at the protests has given Shash and other activists the “drive” they need to continue the movement.
“It’s given us the drive to push further. We’ve created a mutual aid fund, we’ve been helping trans people financially as much as we can through donations.
“At the moment, not everything is set in stone, it’s just been a constant push and talking to people who have felt vulnerable during lockdown.”
Like Bianca, Shash agrees the protests should not be condemned for taking place during the lockdown restrictions.
“What do you expect trans people to do? Stay silent for things they’re fighting for?
“We abided by the laws, we did their game and essentially sand’s been kicked in our face. I think a socially distanced protest was the bare minimum to be honest.”
In a recent statement, the Welsh Government acknowledged that the recent Gender Recognition Act leaks are “disappointing”.
“We have been disappointed to see the leaks of selected sections of the report without proper communication by the UK Government to Welsh Government ministers. This has caused significant distress and anxiety among trans people and wider LGBT+ communities here in Wales and the UK. We believe trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid. We restate our support for trans people’s right to self-identification.”