BUILDINGS will be lit up this weekend and supporters urged to take the knee to mark World Against Racism Day.

Brighton Town Hall and the Brighton Centre are being lit up in purple in support of the World Against Racism day of action today and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination tomorrow.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination takes place annually on March 21, marking the date police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in 1960.

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Stand Up To Racism campaigners are calling for people to take the knee at 1pm today, to show their opposition to all forms of racism.

The gesture became a symbol against racial oppression after American football player Colin Kaepernick knelt while the US national anthem was played before a game in 2016, as a form of protest against the unfair treatment of Black Americans.

A World Against Racism online rally is also set to take place today at 5pm, organised by Stand Up To Racism and the Trade Union Congress.

Last year Brighton and Hove City Council pledged to become an anti-racist council, following the killing of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests worldwide.

The Argus: Thousands took the streets in Brighton in June last year to show support for the Black Lives Matter movementThousands took the streets in Brighton in June last year to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement

Councillor Steph Powell, the Green Party’s joint chairwoman of the tourism, equalities, communities and culture committee, said: “Our pledge to be an anti-racist council means we are committed to using our resources and changing what we do to actively dismantle racist structures and challenge racial inequality.

“We recognise the importance of shining the spotlight on our own organisation and changing our own systems.

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“We are proud of our status as a City of Sanctuary, building a culture of hospitality and welcome for refugees including those seeking sanctuary from war and persecution.

“There is still a long way to go but we are fully committed to continuing this action and working with others to become an anti-racist city.

“We owe it to our current and future generations of young people to do everything in our power to become truly anti-racist and tackle racial discrimination wherever it exists.”

The Argus: Black Lives Matter protesters in Brighton last yearBlack Lives Matter protesters in Brighton last year

Councillor Amanda Evans, the Labour opposition lead for tourism, equalities, communities and Culture, said: “We fully support the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

"Covid-19 has had a disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic residents and shone a light on the inequalities endured by them locally as well as nationally.

"We are committed to the council’s anti-racism strategy and to working with our residents, communities and organisation to make Brighton & Hove an anti-racist city.”

Councillor Dee Simson, Conservative lead for tourism, equalities, communities and Culture, said: “With our city’s landmarks being brightly lit up this weekend for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, it is a reminder that our own council must become a beacon for anti-racism to set an example that our communities can look up to.

“There is much work that the council needs to do to meet this standard and the council is certainly not there at the moment.

"There will need to be a concerted effort from councillors over coming months to live up to the city’s stated anti-racist policy.”