Black Lives Matter motion passed

Date published: 26th June 2020

North Norfolk District Council successfully passed a motion in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Tabled by Cllr Richard Kershaw, Priory Ward, the motion recognises the noticeable rise in racial tension in the UK as a result of the death of George Floyd in the US and the protests that followed. The Council wants to be clear that there is no place for racism and that far more can be done to eradicate discrimination in society.

It also highlights the Government’s finding that the impact of COVID-19 has a disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people.

The motion re-enforces the Council’s commitment to eliminate discrimination of any kind and acknowledges its responsibility to work with the BAME community, to lead by example and tackle the issue proactively.

Cllr Kershaw commented: “Black people comprise 3pc of the population in England and Wales but make up 12pc of the prison population. That’s a worse disproportion than the USA.”

He added: “We suffer systemic racism. Positive acceptance is not good enough - we need to be proactive about stopping racism. This is something we must all do together.”

Leader of the Council, Cllr Sarah Bütikofer, added: "We know we are living through a moment in history where our values are challenged, and we stand on the side of racial and social justice. 

We need to acknowledge the need to challenge ourselves as individuals and in our own organisation about the dangers of unconscious bias.

In times like these, it is important for us to reflect both as individuals and in our communities on the injustice of racism and the impact it has locally, nationally and globally. We should ask ourselves what more we can do to oppose and eradicate it wherever we see it rear its ugly head."

The motion was passed unanimously with no abstentions.