Hard-hitting pupil video aims to shed light on sectarianism

Published on 06/06/2012 16:26

A short film created by school pupils aims to make clear the recurring cycle of Scotland’s sectarian problem and show the possible outcomes for those involved.

The five-minute film, created by North Lanarkshire secondary school pupils, titled ‘Them and Us’ features a boy being put under peer pressure to avenge a sectarian attack on his girlfriend. He sets fire to the door of a house, not realising that there were occupants inside and is imprisoned for murder.

The film was written and produced by secondary schoolchildren in North Lanarkshire from Bellshill Academy and Cardinal Newman High School.

The five minute film was launched today by First Minister Alex Salmond and the Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland QC.

The Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland QC, congratulated the school pupils and staff for their hard work in writing, filming and creating the film.

“Scotland’s prosecutors operate a zero tolerance of crimes motivated by hatred and bigotry and those committing such offences will be arrested and prosecuted. However I firmly believe that prosecution is a blunt tool. It is vital that we speak to communities and young people to listen to their experiences of sectarianism and use these to help educate others about the corrosive nature of bigotry and intolerance.

“It is unacceptable that victims are targeted solely because of their personal identity, their actual or perceived racial or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Everyone in Scotland has a part to play in addressing all crimes of intolerance and hatred of whatever kind.

“I urge young people to challenge intolerance, even if you hear it from your parents or grandparents; know your own mind and tell them this is your Scotland too and you want it to be one where sectarianism and bigotry are a thing of the past.”

Related Articles

• Uneasy pact over sectarianism, but gay marriage rift can only deepen

  ALEX Salmond has offered a freedom of speech concession to opponents of his government’s anti-sectarian legislation in a bid to appease critics of the SNP’s contentious new laws.

  0 Comments

• Eddie Barnes: Divided he stands

  Alex Salmond’s bold plan for a new law on sectarianism in football could yet prove an own goal, finds Eddie Barnes

  2 Comments

• Race crimes at record level with 400 a month reported

  RACE crimes in Scotland have reached record levels with almost 400 incidents recorded every month.

  1 Comments

• A verdict that would shame Deep South

  What kind of country’s legal system could have admittance of guilt by the accused, millions of people watching the assault live on television, the operations director for the security firm handling the event stating it was a religiously-motivated assault and yet, despite all of that, 15 members of a jury find the accused guilty of the practically pointless crime of “breach of the peace” (your report, 1 September)? The answer is: Scotland.

  0 Comments

• Alex Salmond's forced climbdown over his football hate-crime bill may not be enough to save it

  HIS MSPs didn't know. The Opposition parties definitely didn't know. Most embarrassingly of all, the minister in charge of the legislation had just spent the previous couple of hours doggedly telling MSPs the government wasn't for turning.