March 21 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination — something the City of Gothenburg considers to be such a widespread issue in the municipality that it is investing heavily in the day with a wide range of events.

The day was established in 1966 by the UN in memory of the Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa six years earlier, when police shot and killed 69 demonstrators protesting against apartheid. With the event Day Against Racism, the City of Gothenburg is marking the day for the sixth year in a row.

“It feels especially important to give space to young people’s voices and make their experiences visible. The hope is that the day will help increase understanding of how racism affects people’s lives today, as well as provide new knowledge and inspiration,” says Ellis Holmberg, coordinator at the Department of Culture.

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The program includes, among other things, a panel discussion about Muslim life in Sweden and a live broadcast of the podcast Så vad händer? where black history, current events, and the structures that shape racism and resistance will be discussed.

Eid Crafts

The schedule also features Eid-themed crafts for children, a drop-in workshop with Resilience Against Racism, a municipal anti-racist project targeting youth in northeastern Gothenburg, along with poetry reading. The day concludes with a concert featuring afrobeats, reggae, dancehall, as well as Nordic and Ghanaian musical traditions.

Day Against Racism is organized by the City of Gothenburg in collaboration with the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland and the University of Gothenburg within the framework of the Cultural Heritage Academy.

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