Solidarity against racism and discrimination
On the occasion of the European Action Week against Racism, and of marking the International Day for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Romanian Institute for Human Rights launched, in collaboration with its partners from “Regina Maria” College in Ploiești and 113 Secondary School in Bucharest, the online event “Solidarity against racism and discrimination”, which took place during 23 - 29 March.
In our efforts to protect ourselves and our families, we must remember that difficult situations such as the one caused by COVID-19 pandemic can bring out the worst in people: racism, discrimination, hate speech and prejudices. These can spread just like the new virus, becoming a viral phenomenon, which makes us more vulnerable as individuals and as a society.
To this end, the motto of the event organized by IRDO coincided with the theme chosen by UNITED for Intercultural Action for the international campaign #United4Humanity, namely SOLIDARITY. Thus, students were invited to join this campaign in the virtual environment and to post on the event page their thoughts and messages on combating racism and discrimination, to celebrate together diversity, as one of Europe's greatest riches.
Ana Maria Vasilucă from the National College “Regina Maria” in Ploiești stood out during this online activity. Under the coordination of her teacher, Roxana Vișan, she launched a dialogue on solidarity and posted messages against racism and discrimination, among which: “The power of solidarity is greater than that of discrimination!” Why are the letters reversed? Because the picture is captured in front of the mirror, due to the social distance we all live in these days, when efforts are being made throughout the world to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. It is an impressive message of hope in these difficult times, where social distancing, though restrictive, still allows us to capitalize on common goals and promote tolerance and inclusion, wherever we are. In addition to messages with a strong impact against discrimination and racism, she also sent poems, her own creation, which reveal a unique vision of humanity, namely that each individual is like a flower, different from the rest, but each with its own beauty. Thus, through the eyes of a child, we are encouraged to accept, understand and value diversity.
Students of 113 Secondary School in Bucharest joined the event as well, under the guidance of prof. Florentina Ruiu, who recommended that they would each watch from home, on the same day and at the same time (Thursday, 26.03.2020, 3 pm), The Green Book movie. Afterwards, they shared their opinions (via Zoom platform), and posted on the event page their thoughts and opinions about the movie (using the Mentimeter app), concluding that art is a messenger of solidarity and a powerful weapon to combat discrimination and racism. Other students from the same school chose to post their paintings and messages of non-discrimination, human solidarity and hope using the hashtags #Everythingwillbefine and #United4Humanity.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/events/623125185148892/?active_tab=discussion
https://www.facebook.com/events/623125185148892/?active_tab=discussion
https://twitter.com/andradadacica/status/1244267165286641671
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