‘It’s our duty to work towards eradicating racism’

The situation was discussed during a full council meeting after a motion was tabled by Sami Zeglam (Lab, St Mary’s) condemning the killing of George Floyd in the USA and supporting the Black Lives Matter protests.

The motion also called on the council to continue working with Sussex Police to ensure its action were ‘proportionate and fair to all residents’ and to tackle systemic racism and discrimination.

Mr Zeglam said: “As a local government authority, it is our duty to work towards eradicating racism.

“By saying black lives matter, you are not saying other lives don’t matter – the most common misunderstanding of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Instead, you are bringing attention to the way that black people across the world are denied certainty and rights by virtue of being black.

“This is discrimination that white people simply do not experience.”

Mr Zeglam told the meeting there were 4,342 non-white people living in Adur – some 7.1 per cent of the population.

Stressing that racism was ‘not just an American problem’, he said: “Denying a need denies a solution.”

Bringing the issue right to the council’s doorstep, he reminded members that Goring Hall, in Worthing – which is now used as a hospital – was built in 1840 using compensation paid to slave owner David Lyon after 463 slaves were freed.

Mr Zeglam said: “West Sussex and Adur has an uncomfortable history that we must acknowledge as well as a problematic present.

“One step, albeit small, to help humanise black people and minority ethnics is through your support for this motion to help improve the now.”

After a reasoned discussion about some of the wording, members voted unanimously to approve the motion.

Worthing councillors had planned to consider the same motion but had to reschedule after the web feed of their meeting was pulled by YouTube.

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