Black Lives Matter motion voted down by majority of Worthing councillors

Noel Atkins made the claim during a meeting on Tuesday (October 20) after Henna Chowdhury – the borough’s only non-white councillor – tabled a motion calling on the council to ‘stand in complete solidarity with black people in America, in Britain and around the world’.

Mr Atkins (Con, Salvington) said: “This motion is sub judice, and that means Latin for ‘under a judge’.

“Discussion constitutes contempt of court and carries an unlimited fine or two years’ imprisonment.

“An organisation in New Zealand were thus fined for beaching sub judice.

“I therefore believe this motion should be withdrawn.”

It was pointed out that Worthing does not fall within the jurisdictions of courts in the USA.

The Black Lives Matter motion was voted down by 19 votes to 14 with three abstentions.

As well as the call for solidarity, it called on the council to write to the government to address the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on the BAME community; and to work with Sussex police to ensure policing was ‘proportionate and fair to all residents’.

Kevin Jenkins (Con, Gaisford) said he was ‘troubled’ by the wording and was worried that it ‘risked raising anxieties within our community which are unfounded’.

He was given short shrift by Carl Walker (Lab, Selden) who said those anxieties were real, adding “We don’t feel them because we are shielded by privilege.

“We’re an overwhelmingly white council.

“The problem is not that we inflame anxieties, the problem is that we just cut ourselves off and don’t hear these anxieties.”

Mark Withers (UKIP, Northbrook) acknowledged there was ‘still much work to be done to combat racism in the UK’ but did not want to see the council aligned with the BLM organisation, calling the group ‘radical’ and linking it to anti-Semitism.

Shaking as she spoke, Ms Chowdhury described the vile name calling, abuse and calls to ‘go home’ faced on a daily basis by non-white people.

She told her fellow councillors that they were ‘very privileged because they can do anything they want and they can never be picked on. But we get picked on all the time’.

Earlier in the meeting, Paul High (Con, Heene) tabled a similar motion reaffirming the council’s commitment to condemn racism and make sure local groups had all they needed ‘to fight and prevent racism and xenophobia’.

His inclusion of a comment from the Prime Minister raised hackles with some, who spoke about ‘racist comments’ made by Boris Johnson in the past.

A number of amendments were proposed by Helen Silman (Lab, Heene), removing mention of Mr Johnson, acknowledging that there was more work to be done to fight racism, and committing the council to remove the disadvantages experienced by BAME people across the borough.

None of those amendments were agreed and the entire Labour contingent voted against Mr High’s original motion.

The wording of Ms Chowdhury’s motion:

This council wishes to place on record our condemnation of the senseless killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, USA. The subsequent protests and demonstrations around the world in support of Black Lives Matter has caught the public consciousness and this council wishes to recognise this movement.

The latest figures from Sussex Police show that black people in Sussex were 12 times more likely to be stopped and searched by police. In recognition of the incident in Minnesota and disparity of treatment, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Sussex over the weekend of June 13 to support the movement.

The council further notes the release of the Government’s report on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people.

This council resolves:

● To stand in complete solidarity with black people in America, in Britain, and around the world. Systemic racism exists in our society and we must tackle bias, racism or discrimination wherever we find it.

● To write to the government to address the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic people.

● To continue work with the community and Sussex police to ensure that policing in the county is proportionate and fair to all resident

Mr High’s motion:

Worthing Borough Council reaffirms our commitment to condemning racism and working to ensure local bodies and programmes have support and resources needed to fight and prevent racism and xenophobia.

We commend the words of our Prime Minister who said that “black lives matter and I totally understand the anger and the grief that is felt not just in America but around the world and in our country as well”.

We support the peaceful, safe and lawful protests that have formed the most meaningful part of the Black Lives Matter movement.

We note and confirm the work that has been conducted by Worthing Borough Council and our partners since we passed a motion condemning racism on 19 July

2016.

We reassure all people living in Worthing that they are all equally valued members of our community.