Equal Pay - Preserving Glasgow's History
Glasgow City Council was quick to respond positively to a suggestion about preserving the placards and banners from the recent Black Lives Matter event in Glasgow Green
A council spokesperson told the media:
“Placards from the Black Lives Matter protest on Glasgow Green have been retained for future use.
“We were concerned that placards would be permanently damaged by the rain that is forecast and so these placards are now in storage.
“As part of the wider conversation on the city’s past that is currently underway, we will look to determine how the placards can be appropriately displayed in future.”
While council leader Susan Aitken added her tuppence worth with:
“We’ll identify a space that can be their future home.”
Now why didn't they show the same spirit to Glasgow's historic equal pay strike in October 2018 - the first of its kind in the entire history of Scottish local government?
Several thousand low paid workers took part in the Glasgow strike and in the rally at Glasgow Green before marching on to George Square on Tuesday 23 October 2018.
So why does the City Council not show the same kind of enthusiasm for preserving and displaying this proud part of Glasgow's history - I'm sure A4ES, GMB and Unison will gladly help support such a worthwhile project?
Pigs, Mothers and 'Hoes' (09/06/20)
I read yesterday that Glasgow City Council is planning to find a 'future home' for some of the placards used in Saturday's Black Lives Matter protest on Glasgow Green.
If so, I do hope someone is given the important job of sorting out the wheat from the chaff.
Because one of the placards proclaims that "PIGS ARE HARAM" while another promotes the view that mothers are 'HOES' (prostitutes) if their children are racist.
Now much of this is juvenile nonsense, accompanied by poor grammar, but there is a more sinister side as well - for example, the placard below linking 'police brutality' to the death of Stephen Lawrence which is, of course, completely untrue.
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18503718.council-confirms-black-lives-matter-protest-placards-will-preserved-display/
Glasgow City Council confirms Black Lives Matter protest placards will be preserved for display
By Stewart Paterson - Glasgow Times
The placards were used by protesters in Glasgow Green
Placards left by protesters at the anti-racism demonstration in Glasgow Green are to be preserved to be displayed in the future.
The council confirmed it has kept many of the hundreds of home made, hand painted signs that were left at the monument in the Green for “future use”.
Labour and SNP politicians had joined to call for a lasting reminder of the Black Lives Matter protest.
A group, including councillors and MSPs, asked the council to preserve the placards.
They wrote to council chief executive, Annemarie O’Donnell and council leader, Susan Aitken, asking for the placards to be covered in clear hard plastic to be preserved and visible to the public.
The letter stated: “Hundreds turned up, marched, spoke, cried, knelt in solidarity with black people everywhere.
“When they came, they brought with them placards expressing their support and that Black Lives Matter.
“When they left, they laid down those placards as a sign of lasting respect.
“We are writing today to ask that you memorialise this moment by preserving the signs under solid, clear surface, that can be walked upon.
“We believe that by doing so would create a lasting monument to the passion and solidarity shown in Glasgow today.”
The letter was co-ordinated by Labour Glasgow north candidate, Pam Duncan-Glancy.
Alison Thewliss, SNP Glasgow Central MP, Anas Sarwar, Labour Glasgow MSP, SNP councillors Jen Layden, and Graham Campbell and Labour councillors Eva Murray, Aileen McKenzie and Maggie McTernan all signed the letter asking for a permanent display to mark the occasion.
Ms Aitken later said those placards that could salvaged were.
She added: “As many as possible have been (some were unsalvageable) and are being kept safe just now.
“We’ll identify a space that can be their future home.”
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said “Placards from the Black Lives Matter protest on Glasgow Green have been retained for future use.
“We were concerned that placards would be permanently damaged by the rain that is forecast and so these placards are now in storage.
“As part of the wider conversation on the city’s past that is currently underway, we will look to determine how the placards can be appropriately displayed in future.”
