The racist encounter with a taxi driver that inspired a movement

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Another post about the group’s data-led initiative read: “Presumably this is code for ethnically cleansing York of white people.” Addressing the backlash, Mr Njie clarified: “We are not saying that all of the people of York are racist or that York is a racist city, Our evidence-based research has demonstrated that the city has some serious issues of casual and systemic racism.” open image in gallery York ‘has serious issues’ of systemic racism, Ms Njie said She said the action plan to make access to infrastructure and opportunities in York more equitable is inspired by similar programs in cities such as Oxford, Brighton, and Derby that all declared themselves to be anti-racist cities. “Some of the most disturbing data we received was around policing, including figures that showed that Black people are 90 times more likely to be stopped and searched,” Ms Njie said. open image in gallery ‘I think we have a real opportunity – history in the making – to change and review everything so it becomes more equal, to benefit everyone,’ Ms Njie says So the group has looked at other sectors such as healthcare, housing, and social welfare as part of their efforts to develop the action plan, in partnership with the Institute for Social Justice at York St John University. “We would encourage people and businesses across the city to consider how they can support that ambition.” There’s always the risk that organisations, institutions, and people may not be willing to commit their time and resources to implement IERUK’s ideas, Ms Njie said as she reflected on the challenges ahead for IERUK.