Manchester City Council will light up Central Library in solidarity with cities around the country making a stand against racism this weekend.
The iconic building will be lit in purple to mark UN Anti-Racism Day on Saturday 20 March.
Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, executive member for Neighbourhoods said: "Manchester is a culturally diverse city whose residents stand shoulder to shoulder with people around the world to challenge discrimination and racism wherever it happens. The cataclysmic events of the pandemic and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in the last year have made us all reassess and take a closer look at how we live our lives. Now more than ever, we understand that we live in a global world where our lives are inextricably linked, and for that reason it is important that we stand up and be counted and unite in solidarity against racism in all its forms."
Joanne Roney, OBE, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council said: "In Manchester we have a proud history of fighting for the equal rights of all our residents and we will always stand in solidarity with those facing inequality. No one should suffer because of the colour of their skin - or their sexuality, race, religion or culture. Racism of any kind has no place in our society. We will not tolerate discrimination in our great city, we will always come together to make Manchester a fairer place to live where everyone is treated equally."