WARRINGTON Council and Police united with the town’s black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities by ‘taking the knee’ to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
As part of ongoing action this week, tens of thousands of people joined Stand up to Racism’s call to ‘take the knee’ in organised protests, and on their doorsteps, to say Black Lives Matter and demand justice for George Floyd.
The council, Warrington Police and representatives from Warrington’s BAME communities have also ‘taken the knee’ in solidarity.
Last night (June 4) the Town Hall was lit up purple with the flag flying at half-mast, to show continued unity in the fight against racism and discrimination.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Russ Bowden, said: “We will continue to work closely with Warrington Ethnic Communities Association (WECA) and our BAME communities to ensure their voices are heard. We are committed to working with our partners to stamp out racism and discrimination in any form.
“Throughout the coronavirus pandemic the BAME community have shown amazing generosity and support to local healthcare workers and key workers by donating vital PPE, and regularly preparing and delivering meals to staff at Warrington Hospital.
“We stand not just in memory of George Floyd, but for all other lives lost to brutality and racial injustice. It’s now vital that we work together, in partnership with our communities, and the police, to combat racism, build social unity and bring communities together.”
Chief Inspector Simon Meegan, Chair of Warrington’s Hate Crime Action Alliance, said: “We stand alongside all those across the globe who are appalled and horrified by the way George Floyd lost his life.
“In Warrington we have strong relationships with our partners and the public, working in communities to prevent crime and solve problems, and tackling racism and discrimination appropriately wherever we find it. Only by working closely with our communities can we continue to build trust and help keep people safe.”
To find out more about the Black Lives Matter campaign, visit blacklivesmatter.com.
Pictured above (L-R) Cllr Russ Bowden, Mr Malik, Cllr Cathy Mitchell, Superintendent Martin Cleworth, Eshsan Akram, Steven Broomhead and Chief Inspector Simon Meegan ‘take the knee’ in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
