IT WAS reassuring to read (LET, April 16) that our teachers and other educators are organising an anti-racist conference at Ewood Park in Blackburn next month.

Ewood Park is where so many of us go to watch footballers from every corner of the globe, with every colour of skin and followers of every or no faith.

The All Our Futures conference is important. The Professional Footballers' Association is giving its backing and, as one of the world's greatest professional footballers, Pele, says: "Racism is cowardice and all cowardice comes from fear."

Our teachers, sportsmen and women (professional and amateur), members of all faiths, local councils, trades unionists and our young people all working together for a harmonious and peaceful future.

There are, of course, those in our midst who would want and work for hateful and hurtful community relations. They seek to divide human beings because of their skin colour, culture or religion. That's how they judge and value every one of us.

All of our citizens in all of our communities need to decide where they stand on these issues. As Edmund Burke said: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

COUN BILL TAYLOR, Leader, Blackburn with Darwen Council.