Adur and Worthing councils urged to support Black Lives Matter movement

Shoreham resident Amy Borrer, 36, set up a petition calling on the councils to follow the lead of Brighton and Hove City Council and declare themselves as anti-racist.

“I want the council where I live to be representing the views of not just me, but lots of other people here, in support of the movement,” she said.

“In support of increasing social justice and redressing the balance. I find it concerning that they are not saying anything about it.

“If people stay silent on such a massive issue there’s almost an implication that you are not for that fight and not for equality.

“In the position of power the councils have, they should be using that for good. If not the Black Lives Matter movement, then just about being anti-racist.”

Since posting her petition on social media, Amy said she had received disturbing comments, including some which misunderstood the Black Lives Matter slogan, countering with ‘all lives matter’. She said the fact that all lives matter goes without saying and is not being disputed. The Black Lives Matter slogan highlights that the lives of black people matter just as much as those of any other ethnicity, in a society where they are often victimised.

Black Lives Matter was formed to campaign against police brutality in the wake of repeated killings of unarmed black people by police.

It received renewed focus after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, America, who died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes.

“I think there’s a kind of low level racism in certain parts of the community that isn’t challenged – certain words used, or certain jokes,” Amy said. “It’s that endemic racism that needs challenging.”

Adur and Worthing councils were approached for comment.

Earlier this week, Sussex Police was accused of ‘institutional racism’ after figures showed black people are far more likely to be stopped and searched than other ethnicities. Read more here: Black people in Sussex 12 times more likely to be stopped and searched by police, figures show