The terrible killing in the USA of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter Movement remind us of the urgency of fighting injustice and inequality. Floyd’s murder has driven a surge of protest and action across the globe, including in the UK. For many in Bristol, this incident draws attention to the injustices stretching from our history of colonial exploitation and slavery to entrenched racism in society today.
There is a great deal to do and a real role for your MPs and other elected representatives to be proactive about this. I am taking my responsibilities on this very seriously and am making this a priority for me and my team.
I am only one person, and I cannot assume to understand everyone’s experience of racism and injustice. I represent 130,000 people who all have a part to play and views and ideas.
As the first MP for Bristol from a minority background, I feel I have a particular responsibility to support and enable a full range of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) voices and ideas to be heard and discussed. I would also like to bring together people from all ethnic groups and cultures to unite our city in a shared purpose of ending racism.
That’s why I’m taking views and ideas from constituents about how we turn this urge for change into actual change and what we need to do to achieve this. Please give me your ideas using the survey below – anonymously if you prefer – and let me know how we can change Bristol and the wider world for the better.