We at Race Council Cymru join communities across the world in marking five years since the murder of George Floyd. His death on 25 May 2020 – beneath the knee of a police officer – was not just a tragedy; it was a turning point. It sparked a global cry for justice that rang out in every corner of the world. From Minneapolis to Merthyr, people took to the streets, to screens, to classrooms, and to their hearts to say: enough is enough.

We remember George Floyd with sorrow and with purpose. His name became a rallying cry for millions – not just for justice in the United States, but for the urgent need to confront racism wherever it exists. In Wales, we watched in grief and in solidarity. Thousands gathered in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, and beyond, raising placards, kneeling in silence, and pledging to be part of the change.

That moment reminded us that the fight for racial equality is global – and local. It is as much about the systems we live under in Wales as it is about events overseas. It challenged all of us to reflect, to speak up, and to act.

 

What Has Changed Since 2020?

The world shifted after George Floyd’s death. In Wales, the call for justice was not ignored. We saw a renewed energy in communities, in schools, in government. There have been genuine steps forward.

In 2022, the Welsh Government launched its Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, setting out a bold and historic ambition: to make Wales an anti-racist nation by 2030. This wasn’t just a gesture – it was shaped by the lived experiences of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic people across Wales. And we were proud to play a key role in that process – helping to lead public engagement, informing policy priorities, and holding power to account.

We also saw progress in education. Wales became the first UK nation to make the teaching of Black, Asian and minority ethnic histories mandatory in schools. This is not a token addition. It’s a recognition that Black history is Welsh history. Our children deserve to see themselves in the stories they learn – and to understand the full picture of our nation’s past and present.

Representation is growing, awareness is rising, and language around race and equity has become more urgent, more visible. But alongside this, we’ve seen persistent challenges – and in some areas, worsening inequality.

 

Our Contributions at Race Council Cymru

In the past five years, we at Race Council Cymru have deepened our commitment to creating a fairer Wales. We’ve expanded our programmes, engaged communities across the nation, and remained relentless in our mission for racial justice.

Black History Wales 365 – We ensure that Black history is not confined to one month, but celebrated all year round. We’ve led exhibitions, school outreach, artistic programmes and national events that centre Black voices and experiences across Welsh history and contemporary life.

Windrush Day Commemorations – Each year, we honour the legacy of the Windrush Generation in Wales. From oral history projects to public celebrations, we have worked with elders and young people alike to safeguard and share these essential stories.

Black History Youth Awards – Our awards uplift and recognise the contributions of young people across Wales who are shaping their communities and challenging injustice. Their courage and creativity inspire our work every day.

Black Lives Matter Policy Forum – We launched this forum to provide a dedicated space for dialogue, strategy, and collaboration between communities and institutions responding to the renewed urgency of anti-racist work.

Zero Racism Wales Campaign – We established @ZeroRacismWales, a national pledge and campaign promoting zero tolerance for racism in all forms. With thousands of individuals, schools, businesses, and public bodies signed up, the campaign is a public declaration that we will not be silent or passive in the face of discrimination.

Community Engagement – We led public consultations involving over 1,000 contributors from diverse ethnic communities to ensure that the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan was rooted in lived experience and reflected the real concerns and aspirations of the people it seeks to serve.

Multicultural Hubs – We helped establish five Multicultural Hubs across Wales, designed as inclusive spaces to support community cohesion, deliver contemporary diverse arts, host cultural events and activities, offer support services, and run skills development programmes. Each hub aims to foster a creative, collective, and culturally rich environment – including ethnic food cafés and networks of peer-led expertise.

Leadership Networks – We have built and supported a growing network of leaders from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities across Wales – uniting voices to lead change, share solutions, and challenge systems where needed.

Training and Education – Through our anti-racism and inclusion training, we’ve worked with local authorities, public services, and third-sector organisations to build deeper understanding and equip teams with practical tools for equitable practice.

CODI CYMRU: Voices of Change – We launched this national exhibition and platform that captures the courage, power, and passion of those who rose up during the Black Lives Matter movement in Wales. Through visual storytelling and testimony, the exhibition honours the activism that sparked new conversations and helped reshape our public consciousness.

 

Where Are We Now?

There is progress. But there is also pain. While the conversation around race has evolved, racism has not disappeared. Inequality persists – in housing, education, employment, policing.

Hate crime in Wales remains a serious concern. In 2022–23, over 3,100 race-related hate crimes were reported – an increase on previous years. Behind each statistic is a person who felt unsafe, targeted, or dehumanised because of who they are.

The National Survey for Wales has shown that 7% of adults in Wales are digitally excluded – disproportionately affecting those from ethnic minority and lower-income backgrounds. In a digital age, this exclusion deepens inequality and limits opportunity.

Meanwhile, the tone of political debate has hardened. Immigration rhetoric has become more hostile, and communities are often pitted against one another. This environment can fuel division and mistrust – and distract from the real work of building shared understanding.

We cannot and will not allow racism to go unchallenged. Not in our streets. Not in our institutions. Not in our silence.

 

Together Towards an Anti-Racist Wales

Despite the challenges, we remain hopeful. Hope lives in our communities. It lives in the young people rewriting the narrative. It lives in the educators committed to inclusive teaching. It lives in every organisation that signs the Zero Racism Wales pledge. And it lives in you.

We believe a Wales free from racism is possible. But it will take all of us. That means continued learning, continued listening, and continued action.

As we remember George Floyd today, we do so not just in mourning, but in movement. We honour him – and all those lost to racial injustice – by continuing the work.

So we invite you to stand with us.

Join our events. Use your voice. Support our work. Speak up when you see injustice. Teach your children about the value of every human life. And let’s build a Wales where every person – regardless of race, background or belief – feels safe, respected, and heard.

Five years on, the fight for racial justice continues. And we are still rising.

Tags: #BlackLivesMatter #AntiRacistWales #CodiCymru #UnityInAction

---