Alliance Youth is holding a petition at Queen’s University Freshers’ Fair tomorrow as part of its ongoing campaign to tackle racism in our society. Chair of Alliance Youth Conrad Dixon has said it is vitally important that young people have a voice and he said that the petition calls for the First and Deputy First Minister to bring forward the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration strategy urgently. Amongst others, David Ford and Anna Lo will be attending Freshers’ Fair.

Conrad Dixon said: “This petition gives students at Queen’s University the chance to shout with one clear voice that racism must be stopped.

“We need action form the First and Deputy First Minister to introduce the measures necessary to tackle prejudice in our society. It is a disgrace that after the events involving the intimidation of Romanian families, this vital new strategy to crack down on racism and sectarianism in Northern Ireland has not yet been produced.

“I am hoping for an excellent response to our petition. We need to show young people that politics can work and that they should get involved if they want to make changes that impact positively on people’s everyday lives.”

“Our petition can also be signed online here.

Commenting on Ian Parsley’s defection to the Conservative Party, Alliance Party Leader David Ford said:

“I am very disappointed at this news because I believe that Alliance remains the only party totally committed to a shared future in both word and deed.

“Whatever they may say about creating a shared future, UCUNF is still a sectarian group. There are huge contradictions between the delusions of some Conservatives that think they are anti-sectarian, and the 1950s-style bigotry still coming from Ulster Unionists elements. I fear Ian will find this contradiction more and more difficult to live with as time goes on.

“He has left a promising political career to stumble down a blind alley. It is sad to see an up and coming politician move to a marginal party with minimal prospects.”