Rhammel Afflick

Rhammel Afflick
BEM
Born
Rhammel Emmanuel Basil Afflick

(1994-04-06) 6 April 1994 (age 30)
Wandsworth, London, England
Known forPolitical activism
AwardsBritish Empire Medal

Rhammel Emmanuel Basil Afflick BEM (born 6 April 1994) is a British writer and political activist. He is best known for his campaigning on race, knife crime and LGBT+ rights. He was Director of Communications for Pride in London from 2019 to 2021.[1][2]

Born and raised in South West London, Afflick has been campaigning since the age of 11 when he was elected to Kingston Youth Council.[3][4]

In 2021, Afflick was awarded BEM for services to the community in London in the 2021 New Year Honours.[5][6][7]

Early life and education

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Afflick was born in Wandsworth and grew up in Balham. He attended Chessington School, known as Chessington Community College at the time, for secondary school and sixth form, completing in 2012.[8] He has written about his experience as a bisexual man in London.[9] Afflick is of West Indian descent with both sides of his family originating from Jamaica.[10]

Career

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Afflick began campaigning aged 11,[4] initially focusing on the relationship between young black men and the police.[11] He subsequently became heavily involved in local politics in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. Afflick was appointed an advisor of local authorities School Admission Forum,[12] Kingston's Community and Police Partnership and many other panels. He was elected a member of the UK Youth Parliament and Chair of the Kington Youth Council in 2011 advocating on issues such as child poverty and public transport.[13][14]

Afflick continued to campaign on issues affecting young people making regular appearances across the British media.[15][16][17] He then started writing for a number of publications including HuffPost and The Independent.[citation needed] Alongside many other young people he has been an advocate of social action following his nomination as an ambassador of the Prince of Wales’ charity Step Up To Serve.[18] In 2015, he co-hosted the charities annual award ceremony alongside British television presenter Susanna Reid.[19]

Afflick has been outspoken about serious youth violence and gangs in the United Kingdom, campaigning on the issue alongside activists like Jeremiah Emmanuel, the founder of One Big Community.[20][21] He's been vocal about his support for a public health approach to the knife crime epidemic in the capital calling on politicians to take different steps to address the root causes of inequality. He has been critical of the approach taken by successive governments and politicians in response to knife crime.[22][20][23][24] Afflick has repeatedly spoken out about the use of stop and search on young black men in the UK. He has stated he believes policing tactics such as stop and search can be counterproductive and divisive.[25] His joint work with other young activists led to the formation of the UK Parliament Youth Violence Commission where he later gave evidence.[24]

Afflick has been a strong supporter of the UK campaign for lowering the voting age to 16, speaking in support in the lead up to Britain's EU Referendum.[26][27]

He campaigns on LGBT rights, racism, hate crime and inclusivity in the workplace in the UK.[28][29][30][31] He has spoken about the importance of tackling racism in the LGBT community, intersectionality and allyship.[32][33]

Afflick volunteers with a number of charities including government-funded charity Police Now where he serves as a trustee.[34]

Pride in London

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Afflick volunteered for Pride in London for more than 7 years starting in 2013 and was appointed Communications Director in November 2019.[35][36] During his time within the organisation he campaigned on the importance of Pride and championed the need to elevate black and transgender people within the LGBT community.[37][38]

Resignation and aftermath

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In March 2021, Afflick revealed he had resigned from his position at Pride in London earlier in the year, citing concerns over the organisation's lack of intersectionality and reluctance to listen to black voices or commit to meaningful anti-racism.[39][40] Pride in London responded by issuing a formal apology.[41] In an interview with ITV News Afflick responded to Pride in London's apology by saying the time had come for pride to demonstrate it was serious about change.[42]

The following day, on 19 March 2021, Pride in London's entire Community Advisory Board resigned over the matter.[43] Approximately 20 volunteers resigned in solidarity as the organisation became 'engulfed in a race row'.[44] The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also intervened shortly after Afflick's resignation stating he was taking the allegation seriously.[45] One of Pride in London's key sponsors, DIVA Magazine, pulled in protest at the revelations from Afflick.[46]

Several leading LGBT+ organisations in the United Kingdom issued statements in support of Afflick, and the other volunteers who resigned including Stonewall, Mermaids and UK Black Pride on Friday 20 March 2021.[47][48][49][50] In an interview with Gay Times, Afflick disclosed that he felt ‘relief’ after issuing his statement. He went on to say “black people shouldn’t have to withdraw from these mainstream spaces for fear of racism”.[51] Later that day five Directors of Pride in London, including Co-Chairs Michael Salter-Church and Ali Camps stepped down following ‘critical media coverage and feedback'.[52] However, many including Afflick called for an overhaul to increase trust in communities with Afflick stating that entirely new leadership was needed.[53][54]

British Youth Council

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Afflick has worked for the government-funded charity British Youth Council for more than a decade often acting as a spokesperson for the organisation in British media and in UK Parliament.[55][56][57]

Commentary

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Afflick spoke out repeatedly in the media against FIFA's decision to host the World Cup in Qatar. Afflick also joined calls for celebrity ambassadors of the game to withdraw their support given Qatar’s well-documented human rights abuses and its laws surrounding LGBT rights.[58]

Awards

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Afflick was a recipient of the British Empire Medal in the 2021 New Year Honours. He was recognised for more than a decades commitment to campaigning and volunteering in the community[59][60]

Commonwealth honours

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Country Date Appointment Post-nominal letters
 United Kingdom 2020 – present British Empire Medal BEM

Community Awards

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Afflick was recognised as one of the 40 Black British individuals who are poised as the next generation of leaders of African and Caribbean descent by the Black Cultural Archives.[61]

References

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  1. ^ Delahunty, Stephen. "Pride in London hires new comms director". www.prweek.com.
  2. ^ "Rhammel Afflick with guest attend the 'Yay! You're Gay! Now What?'..." Getty Images.
  3. ^ "Rhammel Afflick" (PDF). iWill. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b Brencher, Holly (27 March 2024). "Rhammel Afflick: Empowering Change as a Youth Activist". South West Londoner.
  5. ^ "New Year Honours: Covid heroes and NHS key workers recognised by the Queen". 30 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Awards for New Year Honours List 2021" (PDF). Order of the Companions of Honor. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  7. ^ "New Year Honours List - United Kingdom" (PDF). The Gazette. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Teacher dies of cardiac arrest at Chessington Community College". Your Local Guardian.
  9. ^ "Owen Jones talks to five bisexuals - 'Stop asking us for threesomes!'". www.youtube.com.
  10. ^ "Black British Voices Project: 'Being black and British is an abundance of joy'". The Guardian.
  11. ^ "Wandsworth think tank on quest to bridge gap between youth and police | SWLondoner". 18 April 2012.
  12. ^ "the School Admissions Forum - Minutes of the Meeting" (PDF). 24 February 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Youth Parliament rep to debate in House of Commons". Your Local Guardian.
  14. ^ "Schoolgirl elected to Youth Parliament". Surrey Comet.
  15. ^ "Voting should be allowed at 16, say youth campaigners". BBC News. 10 July 2012.
  16. ^ "University applications fall by 9 per cent". Channel 4 News. 30 January 2012.
  17. ^ "Why millennials votes will matter in the general election". Evening Standard. 18 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Prince Charles to urge young people to get involved in social action". The Guardian. 17 November 2015.
  19. ^ "HRH The Prince of Wales at Wayra UK to highlight the importance of social action among the young". O2 The Blue. 17 November 2015.
  20. ^ a b "Spate in London youth murders directly linked to poverty and austerity, practitioners warn". The Independent. 4 April 2018.
  21. ^ Warburton, Dan (19 June 2016). "Young people can't vote in EU Ref - but will have to live with consequences". mirror.
  22. ^ "Home Office to place legal duty on public bodies to tackle knife crime". The Independent. 1 April 2019.
  23. ^ "Knife crime prevention being 'seriously hampered' as councils left in dark about youth offending funding". The Independent. 15 May 2019.
  24. ^ a b "Number of under-16s treated for knife injuries soars". The Independent. 11 April 2018.
  25. ^ "Young black men 'demonised' by stop and search". BBC. 2 April 2018.
  26. ^ "Young people won't be able to vote in EU Referendum - but they will have to live with the consequences". 19 June 2016 – via www.mirror.co.uk.
  27. ^ "Votes at 16 and 17: Eleanor Laing and Rhammel Afflick Close". BBC News. 19 June 2016.
  28. ^ Cattermole, Gareth. "GAY TIMES Honours 500 - Studio". www.gettyimages.co.uk.
  29. ^ Cattermole, Gareth. "GAY TIMES Honours 500 - Studio". www.gettyimages.ae.
  30. ^ "LGBTQ+ people continue to feel displaced in the workplace". www.totaljobs.com. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  31. ^ "British LGBT+ People Are Still Lying About Who They Are". www.huffingtonpost.co.uk. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  32. ^ "When Are We Planning to Stamp Out Rampant Racism in the UK LGBT Community?". www.huffingtonpost.co.uk. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  33. ^ "The LGBT+ Community & Black History Month". InterComms. 29 October 2018.
  34. ^ "About Us". Police Now. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  35. ^ "Free and equal: YouTube stars discuss the fight for LGBT equality in Redbridge". 11 February 2016 – via www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk.
  36. ^ "BBC's new 'no bias' rule creates confusion over LGBT Pride parades". 30 October 2020 – via www.metro.co.uk.
  37. ^ "Pride in London - why does it matter?". ITV News. 2 July 2018.
  38. ^ "BBC staff can attend Pride parades, director general Tim Davie says". BBC News. 30 October 2020.
  39. ^ Afflick, Rhammel (17 March 2021). "Why I Left Pride". Medium. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  40. ^ Loffhagen, Emma (18 March 2021). "For queer people of colour in London, Black Pride is crucial". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  41. ^ White, Nadine (18 March 2021). "Pride in London's senior Black member resigns over racism concerns". The Independent. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  42. ^ "Pride in London race row as most senior black member quits and organisers admit 'we must do better'". ITV News. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  43. ^ Mohdin, Aamnna (18 March 2021). "Pride in London advisory board resigns citing 'hostile environment'". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  44. ^ Swerling, Gabriella (18 March 2021). "London Pride in race row as 20 volunteers and most senior black member quit over racism concerns". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  45. ^ Milton, Josh (18 March 2021). "Entire Pride of London advisory board quits and demands Sadiq Khan investigate 'hostile environment'". Pink News. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  46. ^ Riley, Linda (17 March 2021). "DIVA pulls out of Pride In London over racism concerns". DIVA Magazine. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  47. ^ Kelley, Nancy (19 March 2021). "Stonewall statement on institutional racism within Pride in London". Stonewall. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  48. ^ "The events of the last few days - our full statement". UK Black Pride. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  49. ^ "Pride in London and institutional racism". Mermaids. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  50. ^ White, Nadine (19 March 2021). "Pride in London: Peter Tatchell calls for investigation into company following racism allegations". The Independent. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  51. ^ Clarke-Oliver, Lerone (19 March 2021). "The whole confederation of Pride in London needs to change". Gay Times. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  52. ^ "A statement from Pride in London on significant changes to structure and leadership". Pride in London. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  53. ^ Mohdin, Aamna (20 March 2021). "Calls for overhaul of Pride in London after series of resignations". Pride in London. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  54. ^ Milton, Josh (19 March 2021). "Pride in London co-chairs resign with immediate effect after damning accounts of racism and bullying". Pride in London. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  55. ^ "Why shouldn't young people have a say?". BBC. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  56. ^ "The future UK-EU relationship - Oral evidence". UK Parliament. 6 December 2022.
  57. ^ "How can charities connect with politicians ahead of a general election?". Third Sector.
  58. ^ "Unapologetic, Episode 6". Channel 4. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  59. ^ "New Year's Honours list IN FULL: Who has been honoured by Queen?". Daily Express. 1 January 2021.
  60. ^ "New Year's Honours: Romford's Rhammel Afflick awarded BEM for 15 years of campaigning work". Romford Recorder. 31 December 2020.
  61. ^ "BCA Chair's 40X40 Future Leaders Campaign & Awards". Black Cultural Archives. 19 October 2022.
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