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I wanted to write to you to reassure you that Southwark stands united against racism and injustice. The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has shocked the world and reminded us once again that we cannot and should not tolerate racism in any form or from any person.
One of the things I love most about Southwark is the way our different communities, different ethnicities and different faiths, all live and work side by side, and contribute equally to all the things that make our borough great. COVID-19 has tested our community, and throughout this dreadful pandemic we have shown our strength, resilience and support for each other, irrespective of our differences.
But the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on our residents who are from BAME communities has been a huge wake-up call. As a council we were already working hard to tackle the health inequalities in our borough, to provide opportunities for people on lower incomes to reach their potential and to make sure our workforce is representative of the borough we serve. But COVID-19, and the hurt and pain caused by events in the US, have shown us there is much more to do. We need a step change.
As Leader of the council, I promise you that we will take this pain and turn it into something positive. We will work with our Black communities and our staff, to bring about meaningful change. We don’t have all the answers yet but we are committed to listening, and to learning how we can most effectively challenge inequality in Southwark and stamp out injustice.
I will write to you again next week, but for now please stay safe, and know that in Southwark we truly believe that Black Lives Matter.
Peter
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