Huge turn out for Show racism the Red Card fringe meeting at NEU’s 2025 Conference
Show Racism the Red Card held a fringe meeting at NEU National Conference 2025, building on years of essential and successful partnership with the teaching union and highlighting the need for anti-racism on the curriculum.
Over 200 teachers and NEU reps attended the meeting, which featured contributions from NEU President Sarah Kilpatrick – fresh from her opening address to the 2000 teachers in attendance at the conference. Sarah spoke passionately about the need for more focus on anti-racism education within the curriculum and endorsed the approach from Show Racism the Red Card, referencing her recent attendance at an education event with young people at the Hetton Centre in Sunderland, which featured Sunderland AFC first team players Wilson Isidor and Aji Alese. Isidor and Alese spoke to the young people about their own experiences of racism within the game and as part of wider society and provided advice on what to do if the young people themselves experienced racism.
NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede also spoke about his long-running association with Show Racism the Red Card – from his early days as a teacher in the North East, and the organising that he has participated in to counter the rise of the Far Right on the streets and in communities across the region. Daniel – echoing Sarah – warned of the increasing threat of Reform UK, and of dangerous and prejudicial narratives that young people are being exposed to, coming from popular and influential social commentators via social media.
Show Racism the Red Card patron, Chris Kamara, then delivered a moving address, recounting his experiences growing up as part of one of the few black families in Park End, Middlesbrough. Chris recognised that the racism he experienced has lessoned as he became more well known, but that the underlying attitudes remain present among sections of society and also reflected on his own negative experiences at school – highlighting the vital role that teachers can play in nurturing young people, particularly those likely to face discrimination and prejudice.
Attendees at the fringe meeting were then given the opportunity to ask questions to Chris, along with David O’Leary and Ken Monkou, both of whom are also patrons of the education charity. David spoke about his early days as a professional footballer at Arsenal FC, and the impact of anti-Irish sentiment on him and his family as he adapted to living in a new country during the mid-80s. Ken too reflected on his own experiences of racism, citing an example of being refused a room for the night at a hotel on arrival, despite having previously made a reservation.
Show Racism the Red Card would like to thank Chris, David and Ken for their inspirational contributions, and for giving so generously of their time. Our thanks also go to Sarah and to Daniel for their continued and unwavering support for Show Racism the Red Card, and we would also like to pay tribute to all of the teachers we spoke with who continue to educate about the dangers of racism and the importance of celebrating diversity, in classrooms up and down the country.