The death of George Floyd was extremely distressing, and my thoughts are with his family and friends at this extremely difficult time. I cannot believe what happened to George Floyd and the police officer in question must face the appropriate punishment.
I completely applaud the intent of the peaceful protests but am disappointed when I see the small minority of protesters using this as an opportunity to loot businesses and properties.
The language being used by the U.S. President Donald Trump has been particularly unhelpful and I completely condemn this.
Police violence in any form against anyone is completely unacceptable and must stop. Whilst of course the death is sad, my hope is that this can be a key turning point against police violence across the world.
I am proud to be a Member of Parliament in a country which is and always will be the most welcoming and friendly in the world.
Black Lives do matter and have always mattered.
It was murder, why do you not use the word murder? in the scheme of things I think mentioning looting is very distasteful and puts you more in line with Trump than with black lives matter.
ReplyDeleteThough I respect that you are addressing the issue, I request that you take action in the matter directly. These are the demands that need to be put forward in parliament to take this movement forward:
ReplyDelete- Immediate suspension of UK sales of teargas, riot shields + rubber bullets to the US
- Condemn Trump's use of force against his own citizens
- Release the delayed report into BAME Covid deaths
You cannot claim to applaud those who protest peacefully in America and ignore race issues in your own country. Please vocally and actively take a stand against the racism in our country.
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ReplyDeleteThis is not a good enough response. You do not mention the effect of systematic racism and white privilege in your half-hearted statement. The police officers in question have now been charged but this is not an isolated event. You say you condemn the language of Trump but fail to show how you actively condemn this. How are you ensuring that your ‘hope’ is actively converted into participating into anti-racist demands? Why have you ignored the racism in the UK, instead saying that we are 'welcoming and friendly.' You represent Cornwall, where less that 2% of the population are from BAME ethnic groups, yet chose to only speak out on your hard-to- find blogspot or in automatic emails.
1:Have you written to Dominic Raab MP and asked him to condemn the words and actions of the President of the USA, and call for him to suspend the attack on protesters?
2:Have you written to the Prime Minister to ask him to denounce Trump's militarisation of the protests in the USA?
3: Or to the Home Secretary Priti Patel to ask her to make assurances that UK protesters will not be met with excessive use of force?
4: Have you called on the government to immediately suspend licences for tear gas, riot shields and rubber bullets to the USA?
5: Do you advocate for educational material on the issue of white privilege and systemic racism to be taught within the current British education system?
I am sure we all with you deplore the actions by the US police officer and the colleagues who aided him. And although you do not mention it, we would wish to stand against the racism which lies behind this terrible case, and many others.
ReplyDeleteBut what to do? A friend of mine has encouraged me and others to support the NAACP fund as a positive action which will make a tangible difference to lives blighted by racism. Please read the following description of their work
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is America's legal counsel on issues of race. Through advocacy and litigation, LDF focuses on issues of education, voter protection, economic justice and criminal justice. We encourage students to embark on careers in the public interest through scholarship and internship programs. LDF pursues racial justice to move our nation toward a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans.
Perhaps you would consider donating something to make a positive step towards combating racism in the USA, even if only from a distance.
https://www.facebook.com/donate/2759812567461487/2762190363890374/
Dear Cherilyn,
ReplyDeleteI just sent you an email attached with a letter on my thoughts: upon reading your 'blog' here I am not comforted that you really are going far enough.
Even without knowing what you preexisting stance was on the matter, expressed here, my letter stands. Unfortunately the words of solidarity expressed are not empty with meaning, but full of disengagement: this is a soft and tame response to such an issue, we can do more and you, as a representative of our government, can do better in the face of such grave injustice.
If black lives always mattered we wouldn't be where we are today: your constituents wouldn't have to scream just to be seen: Subsequently, upon reading my letter I hope you too come to realise that more of a stance needs to be taken firstly and, more importantly, parliament must act: you must not only represent us, but represent the ideals that our democracy must enshrine.
I hope you will take these points and my letter seriously, and take a firmer and more definitive stance on this present, pressing, problem.
Yours, a constituent, Luke Lavender
Dear Cherilyn,
ReplyDeleteI have sent you an email regarding Black Lives Matter and the death of George Floyd, petitioning you to make an active change in Parliament and use your platform and influence for good.
However, upon reading your blog post, I am not satisfied with your response. The fact that you state that you "cannot believe" what happened suggests that you haven't yet begun to edcuate yourself on systemic racism. It is not surprising that the police in the US kill Black people. This is a fact and a truth that has been happening for years, that Black people have suffered violence at the hands of the state. This is happening now and it should not be surprising.
I am glad to see that you are outraged. That you are upset by what has happened. However, being outraged and upset is not enough. We need change. We need you to use your platform and make sure that change happens. Britain is not innocent. The UK is not innocent. We live in a country that has benefited from the suffering and oppression of minorities and we need to own up to that.
So I ask you:
1) Write to Dominic Raab, Priti Patel and Boris Johnson directly and ask them to condemn the response of US President Donald Trump
2) Support local protests in Falmouth and Truro: have you yet done anything to amplify the voices of those most hurting? Have you shown any solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement other than writing this blog post?
3) Write to the local police and ask them to specify what they have been doing to prevent racial bias and discrimination in Cornwall
4) Condemn publicly the use of shields by the police and the violent means that they are employing, that are ongoing in the UK
We just ask that you acknowledge what's happening, and that you do something about it. It's the bare minimum.
Thank you,
Anna Ray
Falmouth constituent
Dear Cherilyn,
ReplyDeleteI have sent you an email regarding Black Lives Matter and the death of George Floyd, petitioning you to make an active change in Parliament and use your platform and influence for good.
However, upon reading your blog post, I am not satisfied with your response. The fact that you state that you "cannot believe" what happened suggests that you haven't yet begun to edcuate yourself on systemic racism. It is not surprising that the police in the US kill Black people. This is a fact and a truth that has been happening for years, that Black people have suffered violence at the hands of the state. This is happening now and it should not be surprising.
I am glad to see that you are outraged. That you are upset by what has happened. However, being outraged and upset is not enough. We need change. We need you to use your platform and make sure that change happens. Britain is not innocent. The UK is not innocent. We live in a country that has benefited from the suffering and oppression of minorities and we need to own up to that.
So I ask you:
1) Write to Dominic Raab, Priti Patel and Boris Johnson directly and ask them to condemn the response of US President Donald Trump
2) Support local protests in Falmouth and Truro: have you yet done anything to amplify the voices of those most hurting? Have you shown any solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement other than writing this blog post?
3) Write to the local police and ask them to specify what they have been doing to prevent racial bias and discrimination in Cornwall
4) Condemn publicly the use of shields by the police and the violent means that they are employing, that are ongoing in the UK
We just ask that you acknowledge what's happening, and that you do something about it. It's the bare minimum.
Thank you,
Anna Ray
Falmouth constituent