WEST Ham United will take part in football's national
anti-racism week of action this October by joining the largest
series of anti-racist activities ever staged in European football,
by holding an anti-racism day of action at Upton Park.
The match against Middlesbrough on Sunday 23rd October will be the designated anti-racism game and will feature a number of activities across the club.
The week of action is now a firm fixture in the sporting and community calendar and has been co-ordinated by football's anti-racism campaign, Kick It Out, as part of the game's ongoing contribution to tackle racism.
The week will take place between the 13th and 26th October with over 600 events taking place, including all 92 professional clubs and a number of conference and non- league clubs.
Hammers goalkeeper Shaka Hislop said: "This is a great initiative to bring football and the community together to raise awareness of the anti-racism message.
"The game has made great strides to tackle racism in football and the week of action is an important part of the continued drive to underline the anti-racism campaign."
Lord Herman Ouseley, Chairman of Kick It Out, today commented:
"Less than twelve months ago England's finest black
players were racially abused at the Bernabeu in Madrid in front of
millions watching on television. The response from the nation was a
unified call for action.
"Given that these scenes were once common place in England we
felt that this response was one to be proud of and signaled how
initiatives such as the Week of Action are essential in continually
underlining our opposition to racism and inequality.
"Between the 13th and 26th October we call on everyone touched
by the game to continue the call for action against racism and to
celebrate the contribution ethnic minorities have made to the
game."