This is the notorious ‘BLM’ speech given to Brighton and Hove Council 13 August 2020. Written by “Brighton Black Lives Matter”, Green Party councillor Amy Heley read it to full-council as a Notice of Motion ‘declare Brighton and Hove and “anti-racist city”‘. The council approved the motion. Arguably, this was the meeting where the rot set in. By June 2021, faced with criticism over its schools strategy, the council openly declared that “critical race theory is our lens for developing our understanding of the complexities of racism…”. [in the online webcast, to the left of Amy Heley is presiding chair Mayor Alan Robbins].
The speech never appeared in council minutes.
Amy’s Speech: ‘…a statement from the Brighton and Hove Black Lives Matter group’…
“The BLM group began on July 13th 2013 following the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. We have seen many surges in the movement over the years and following the murder of George Floyd in May (we witnessed the protests across the world), Brighton BLM group were formed. The group has and continues to organise physical protests but their activism spans much further. This part of the strategy is to hold our council accountable and apply pressure where possible as we all know words and statements are nothing without action. The global movement strives for the eradication of white supremacy while empowering black communities. Empowerment takes the form of fostering black innovation creating safe spaces for black expression and ensuring we centre all black lives at all times. This includes but is not limited to our trans and gender non-conformist [inaudible] with the LGBTQI+ community, disabled folks, those with mental health issues and people seeking asylum.
For over 500 years the societies we live in have been constructed to make life harder if you’re black. We all know this and surely we don’t need to offer a history lesson but then again maybe we should as black history and colonialism isn’t taught in our schools. Despite Black History Month being made to display black history and excellence [inaudible] 1926, there is so much anecdotal and numeric evidence to support the opposite – a failure in educating children. Currently, under the Key Stage 3 curriculum there is no strategy in place for black history, only emphasising the failure to educate and glorify the black community who have done so much for the socio-economic growth of this country.
The council is clearly aware of the systemic racism rife in our country and, as announced last month, they would like to claim an anti-racist stance. This is well and good but you can’t just talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. You cannot claim an anti racist stance while black people are more than 10 times more likely to be stopped and searched in our city. Additionally, you cannot claim stop and search practices frequently target young black men as a result of cuckooing and county-lines while not pouring funding into projects like the BAME Young People’s Project particularly when black people in our community are [inaudible} an essential service.
You cannot claim an anti-racist stance whilst colonial history is not taught in our schools and beyond. Equality and diversity training is often inadequate and the council should take an anti-racist education seriously if it wishes to claim such a position. You cannot claim an anti-racist stance while the tallest attraction in our city is sponsored by a corporation which profits 30m pounds per year from racist deportation contracts with the home office. Our council cannot claim an anti-racist stance while there are still golliwogs being sold in shops; while we are disproportionately followed around supermarkets; while we’re still treated unfairly in venues and nightclubs; while we’re reprimanded by our employers including the Sussex NHS partnerships and Brighton and Hove City Council and while we do not include a plethora of black voices and lived experiences in decision-making.
We appreciate the support of some councillors but want to emphasise that we are not looking for a seat at the table – we want to dismantle the table and bring equity of opportunity to all. Our demands for the council thus far represent a step toward this. That is the end of the BLM statement.”
The council state:
“We can confirm that the statement given by Councillor Heley at the Council meeting last August was hers and based on information given to her in confidence by supporters of the Black Lives Matter campaign. As such the information held by Councillor Heley constitutes personal data under the Data Protection Act 2018. As this is personal data, disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) is conditional upon satisfying the First Data Protection Principle, that processing be fair, lawful and transparent”. [FOI response 05/07/21 to my request made 24/05/21]
Elsewhere we learn that BLM Brighton met with CEO Geoff Raw but no information is available on who he met or what they discussed.
“DECLARE BRIGHTON & HOVE TO BE AN ANTI-RACIST CITY” also appeared as a petition read out at the same meeting. On schools it stated “we welcome the news that BHCC are working on a schools program” yet, in June/July 2020 the public knew nothing of the new CRT-based program.
The ‘BLM’ speech took place at the Special Council, 13 August 2020 (Agenda Item 35 (3)
NOTICE OF MOTION – GREEN GROUP
‘BLACK LIVES MATTER / ANTI-RACIST COUNCIL’
As it appeared on the agenda the motion read:
“Further to previous council communications, this council formally pledges to be an antiracist council and to advocate values of anti-racism across Brighton and Hove. [1]
Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to:
Work to convene a meeting with political leaders in the city and the Brighton and
Hove Black Lives Matter group, to respond to demands [my emphasis]
Offer support to those taking part in the Black Lives Matter protests through outlining
practicable council health and safety assistance available to organisers during the
Covid-19 pandemic; e.g. measures or signage to aid social distancing, access to
protective equipment etc.
Council also requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Sussex Police and Crime
Commissioner (PCC), expressing this council’s desire for the PCC to conduct an
investigation into:
the disproportionate use of stop-and-search powers against BAME communities,
and pressing for a review into the response of Sussex PCC to the Macpherson
Report and Lammy review; as well as the role of local Community Scrutiny panels;
[2]
how the use of excessive force and the Prevent strategy discriminate against BAME
communities in Sussex
Further, that council requests officers bring a report on the above matters to the Tourism
Equalities, Communities and Culture committee, in particular detailing:
information on the BAME pay gap and underrepresentation of BAME employees
within the council, [3] which may be shaped by the results of the Global HPO report
on Race Equality in Employment; and a timeline for implementation of any
recommendations that result from this [4]
Proposed by: Councillor Heley Seconded by: Councillor Powell
Supporting Information:
[1] As a largely white council, we have to do more to be anti-racist and dismantle the institutional
racism within our organisation and across the city. Declaring that we are an anti-racist city is not
enough: for a pledge to be meaningful, it has to be backed up by action and collaboration with the
Black community and people of colour in the city.
[2] It has recently been reported that Black people are 10 times more likely to be stopped and
searched than others in Sussex: https://bit.ly/3fdVqcJ
[3] In the new report on Ethnic Minority Representation in UK Local Government, by Professor Maria
Sobolewska and Dr Neema Begum, Brighton and Hove is listed as an under representative council
in terms of elected officials: https://bit.ly/2VYSM3i
[4] Global HPO review: https://bit.ly/2VXfqJa