Planned protests in Glasgow city centre on Saturday (20 September)
Dear colleagues,
I want to make you aware of upcoming protests in Glasgow city centre this weekend that have been reported in the media.
A ‘Unity’ rally is expected to take place at noon on Saturday (20 September) at the top of Buchanan Street near the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall steps. In response, anti-racism campaigners from the Stand Up to Racism group are planning a counter-protest at the same time and place.
These groups are entitled to protest within the law, however, it’s worth noting that similar events elsewhere across the UK recently have led to large gatherings and, in some cases, confrontations. Police Scotland has confirmed a proportionate policing plan is in place to maintain public order.
Glasgow Life has many venues in and around the city centre and I encourage everyone to be mindful of these planned demonstrations. Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of all colleagues and we are monitoring developments closely.
I will keep you updated if there is any change that could affect our operations or your safety. In the meantime, please speak to your line manager if you have any concerns. You may also find the following resources helpful:
- Mental Health charity Mind has produced this helpful resource on Racism and Mental Health.
- Our My Wellbeing microsite, which you can find on the Colleague Information pages of our website, has a wealth of wellbeing resources and sign-posting.
- All colleagues can use our Employee Assistance Programme, provided by PAM Assist. This offers free, independent and confidential information plus further resources and counselling.
- If you or any member of your family or community experiences a hate crime, or you see one happen, you can report it to Police Scotland by calling 999 (emergency), 101 (non-emergency), or by completing a Hate Crime Reporting Form.
Best regards,
Kay
Kay Morrison
Chief Executive