Before we make a statement, we would like to quote the brilliant Maya Goodfellow here:
“We’ll see many Conservatives celebrate Windrush Day today, as if the Windrush scandal is over. It’s NOT:
-Many still haven’t received compensation
-The Windrush review recommendations haven’t been implemented
-The Hostile Environment is still in place; still destroying lives”
We would also remind people are STILL being deported. We would also like to remind people that some BAME migrant NHS workers are STILL being charged to use the services we often rely on them to provide, despite the government saying this charge would be dropped…
Clwyd South Labour Party are aware that there are many people both inside & outside the Labour Party currently very understandably worried about recent events re mainly those who identify as BAME (Black Asian & Minority Ethnic); we also acknowledge that to some that label can be problematic, but we hope it is understood why we use ‘BAME’ in the current context to describe our solidarity.
We support the reports and work done by David Lammy and others, and join them in their condemnation of the appalling record and token-gesture efforts of the Conservative government. We also support the recommendations from Labour about overhauling current dated school curriculums to include a ‘warts & all’ approach to teaching UK and world history. The good & the bad. Indeed, our own Party rule book, and basic founding Party principles, demand we stand in solidarity, and also demand the highest level of representation & equality for all.
While we understand why people in authority will always defend the rule of law, we are also aware how the ‘proper channels’ and ‘democracy’ has continually failed so many people, including many who define as BAME. A good example being the removing of the statue of Colston in Bristol, after decades of attempts to get it removed via all ‘proper channels’, while its presence acted as a reminder of the very worst aspects of racism, imperialism & colonialism. We note the Chief of Police in Bristol commented that while he did not condone the removal of the statue, he did understand why it happened, and that he instructed his officers not to stop the statue being thrown into the water.
Unless you experience such things yourself, of course it is impossible to say you truly ‘understand’. But we ALL must try to. We must recognise, while not encouraging anyone to break the law, the ‘proper channels’ historically, and now, remain anything but a level playing field. We acknowledge that these institutions are often structurally, endemically, systemically racist, xenophobic sexist and homophobic. This does not mean abandoning the law, it means acknowledging that ‘proper channels’ are anything but in their current form.
So, we wish to make clear that ANY form of racism, abuse, xenophobia, bullying etc, from ANYONE or any system/organisation/infrastructure whether within our Party or outside, is totally abhorrent and we condemn this in the strongest possible terms by saying any such behaviour must face the full extent of disciplinary procedures & the law, where relevant.
We stand in solidarity with all who define themselves as BAME and we are very proud to do so. We would never for a second think any one person is above educating themselves more on these issues, and welcome & encourage any such training being made widely available to everyone in our society.
Solidarity to all.
Adam Samuels
