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Sport stars step up to stamp out hate crime

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Latest news in Yorkshire: September 05, 2018 10:57:48 AM

Sports superstars joined forces with young people in Rotherham to help stamp
out hate crime.

Former boxing champion Johnny Nelson and former professional footballer
Bruce Dyer were on hand at New York Stadium in Rotherham last Friday as part
of a restorative justice event.

They were joined by young people who have been using their community service
sentences to help raise awareness of the crime.

Step Up Beat Hate is a project that has been running for the past five weeks
in Rotherham, Sheffield and Barnsley by South Yorkshire Restorative Services
charity Remedi. It is aimed at working with young people in exploring the
reasons behind the increase in hate crime in South Yorkshire.

Sheffield-born Johnny, who holds the record as the longest reigning
cruiserweight world champion of all time, said: “I have first-hand of hate
crime having had to deal with racism all my life, including in my
professional career over the years.

“No one should ever have to experience something as horrific as this. No one
has the right to abuse someone, whether this is through racism, or because
of how someone looks or acts, or the beliefs they hold. Hate crime needs to
be stamped out and that is why I am happy to support these young people
today to raise awareness in the hope it will help deter other people from
being abusive.”

He will be joined by Bruce Dyer, who in his time as a professional
footballer has played for all four South Yorkshire teams – Sheffield,
Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley – during his career. The striker became
the country’s first £1 million-teenager when he joined Crystal Palace in
1994.

He added: “I too have suffered racist abuse, which is a hate crime. There is
no justification for people being hateful to other people and we need to
make people understand this is a crime and it will not be tolerated in any
shape or form.”

Councillor Emma Hoddinott, Chair of Rotherham’s Safer Rotherham Partnership
said: “Discrimination because of someone’s race, religion, disability or
sexual orientation is not acceptable. We welcome this project for raising
awareness so that people realise just what damage and impact hateful actions
or words can have on individuals.”

The work that has been done by young people during the summer project will
be on display at the stadium this Friday. Both Johnny Nelson, Bruce Dyer and
Councillor Hoddinott will be speaking about their experiences as well as
some of the young people who have been involved in the project.

Remedi staff have been working with young people painting steps at the New
York Stadium, designing posters, making keyrings and various other
activities.

Manager Stacey Coombes added: “We have been talking to them about hate crime
and what to do if you are victim. Everything we’ve done was with the aim of
raising awareness and educating young people in how to report such crimes.”

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