There was unanimous support for black lives in the Hertsmere Council chamber in a cross-party motion that resolved to stand together unreservedly with black people in the Borough and to continue to seek to eradicate racism, Islamophobia and Antisemitism.

It further sort to establish further initiatives to ensure Hertsmere is actively inclusive and anti-racist.

Proposed by Labour Group Leader, Jeremy Newmark, he said: “I have always believed that the best way to fight racism is by creating the broadest possible coalition.  That is why we compromised in order to be backed by members from across the chamber.”

Continued Jeremy: “We are asking Council to make a clear statement and follow it through by acting in an appropriate and practical way to tackle some of the key manifestations of the problem on our own doorstep.  Of course, we do this with a particular focus on the COVID-19 crisis which has shown, in a stark and tragic way, that some of these inequalities are quite literally a matter of life and death.”

“Previously, we marched on the streets to protests the deaths of Joy Gardner, Damilola Taylor and Stephen Lawrence.  It is right and proper that we have seen Black Lives Matter demonstrations and marches locally to protest the death of George Floyd.  I congratulate local resident Rachel Turek for her courage in ensuring this happened.”

“However, if it wasn’t for the committed and ongoing work of many political leaders after those demonstrations and marches had faded away, the killers of Steven Lawrence would never have been brought to justice.  As local political leaders it is our job to ensure that we commit to a similar agenda right here, in our Borough.”

The motion was seconded by the Conservative’s Victor Eni, and supported across the chamber.