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#WeStandTogether – hundreds attend One Voice Vigil

Following the incidents at the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre in New Zealand, the city’s One Voice Partnership organised a vigil this evening (March 21) outside Hove Town Hall.

FIFTY people have lost their lives and at least twenty were wounded in shootings at the two mosques in Christchurch. The shootings took place around the time people were attending for Friday prayers.

Speakers addressing the hundreds who turned up at Hove Town Hall to show their support for Muslims all over the world included:

Geoff Raw, CEO of the Brighton & Hove City Council who gave the opening speech
Imam Uthman delivered a recitation from Quran (Al-Fatiha)
Asmat Roe, Chair Muslim Women’s Group and Vice Chair of the RHF
Cllr Daniel Yates, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council
Mahir Chowdhury, Chair of the Racial Harassment Forum (RHF)
Fiona Sharpe, on behalf of the Sussex Jewish Representative Council
Richard Williams, Chair, Sanctuary on Sea
Father Jerome (Metropolitan Jerome of Selsey), Acting Chair BHFA & Faith Council
Rabbi Dr. Andrea Zanardo, B&H Reform Synagogue
Tariq Jung, Chair, Brighton & Hove Muslim Forum and
Imam Uthman from the Al-Medinah mosque who gave the closing statement which was followed by a minutes silence.

A statement from the One Voice Partnership says: “We do not tolerate violence against innocent people, wherever it takes place. Together we speak with one voice against extremist perspectives and terrorist actions in the city and elsewhere. 

“The Brighton & Hove One Voice Partnership reaffirms that communities, council and police stand together in solidarity with our Muslim communities following the tragic incident in Christchurch, New Zealand. We stand firm that these acts of violence, Islamophobia and hate must not go any further. We stand together to counter the threat from the far right.   

“It’s now even more important for all our communities to demonstrate that we will not let any terrorist action divide us and continue our great tradition of unity and respect for all. We must look out and care for each other and ensure that individuals, communities and places of worship are not singled out in our city.

“One Voice Partnership urges all our communities to stand together as one to stop these acts of violence and hatred from carrying on further and work together to stop Islamophobia, racist and other hate incidents.”

The Leaders of the four political groups on Brighton & Hove City Council, Cllr Daniel Yates (Labour), Cllr Tony Janio (Conservative), Cllr Warren Morgan (Independent) and Cllr Phélim MacCafferty (Green) issued a joint collective statement saying: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the acts of terror which have killed and injured so many innocent people whilst they worshiped.

“We send our sincere condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives, those who have been injured, and all affected. We also send our best wishes for a fast and full recovery to everyone who was injured.

“We repeat our commitment to unity. We stand together; strong in compassion with people from all faiths and backgrounds. Division and hatred drives people into the ranks of those trying to recruit support to their terror campaigns. We will not let this happen.”

As a sign of respect flags were flown at half-mast over both town hall this afternoon and will continue over the weekend.

“Education not indoctrination”- removing the LGBT+ from Education

Anti-LGBT+ sentiment would appear to be growing as a result of the Birmingham Primary Schools education row.

What started with Parkfield Community School in Alum Rock Birmingham, has now spread to at least four schools across the city and politicians from across the party spectrum are voicing their concerns on both sides of the debate.

Parkfield Community School found itself at the centre of parent led protests when on Friday March 1 80% of the children of this Ofsted rated ‘outstanding’ school were retained at home. The school had designed and delivered a programme it called No Outsiders, a programme concerned with inclusion and the acceptance of LGBT+ people as equal members of the wider community. One of the assistant head teachers at the school and a personal pioneer of the programme, had been threatened and verbally abused by parents at the school and local religious and community leaders had spoken out against the programme.

Following a withdrawal of the curriculum, the school has claimed it had always intended to rest the programme of learning but has now announced it has no further plans to deliver this aspect the curriculum.

This follows public statements from local MP Shabana Mahmood who, whilst proclaiming her support for the rights of the LGBT+ communities and citing her record on related parliamentary voting, stated that it is the parents who in her words should decide “how their kids would be taught, and at what stage”.

Four other Birmingham schools have now cancelled their LGBT+ inclusion programmes including the Leigh Trust school who are the latest to suspend the No Outsiders programme, and schools in Manchester are rumoured to be considering following suit.

No Outsiders had served to educate children on diverse groups within wider society and in no way included or was part of a sex education curriculum. It did highlight LGBT+ identities and same gender relationships in a non-sexual context.

Andrew Moffat
Andrew Moffat

Labour MP Jess Phillips who leads a neighbouring constituency spoke out in support of the programme as protestors took to the streets. Parents handed out leaflets commenting upon the perceived sexual orientation of Parkfield Deputy Mr. Andrew Moffat who is a Birmingham based co-author of the campaign. Children also protested flanked by their parents, but it was the children who were seen holding aloft banners that read: “Say no to undermining parental rights and authority”, “Let kids be kids” and “Education not indoctrination”.

Andrea Leadsom MP
Andrea Leadsom MP

The debate has now firmly landed in the lap of the government thanks to an LBC interview with Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom MP. Ms Leadsom stated on air that parents should decide when their children are “exposed” to LGBT+ matters as part of their education, echoing comments made by Margaret Thatcher in 1988 ahead of the implementation of the now much maligned and defunct Clause/Section 28.

Her remarks drew considerable ire from opposition MPs and from members of the LGBT+ communities on social media. Andrea Leadsom thought to be a potential contender to replace Theresa May as Prime Minister stated in 2016 that she had “not liked” same-sex marriage legislation as it “hurt Christians”.

At the Conservative Party conference in 2002, Theresa May then recently appointed chair-person stated in her speech to conference “There’s a lot we need to do in this party of ours. You know what some people call us? The nasty party”.

@craigscontinuum

Bear-Patrol raise almost £3,500 for LGBTQ Mental Health Charity

Bear-Patrol, the social networking community group raise £3,424.25 for MindOut, the LGBTQ Mental Health Service during The Grand Brighton Half Marathon 2019.

MONIES were raised via sponsorship of Bear-Patrol supporters all running as part of Team Bear-Patrol on behalf of MindOut, the LGBT Mental Health Service.

Nine Team Members help raise the sponsorship: Craig Baines, Lawrence Mulingani, Danny Dwyer, Mark Alexander, Paul Woodcock, John Pursglove, Simeon Peach, Alexandra and Kirsten Wheatley.

Craig Baines who works for Santander applied for his sponsorship monies to be match funded by The Santander Foundation and was successful in his application adding an extra £500 to his sponsorship bringing his total to over £1,000 for MindOut.

In 2020 Bear-Patrol will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary of Fundraising and are aiming to put a BIG team together this time on behalf of The Sussex Heart Charity bringing in new runners and encouraging past team runners to put their running shoes back on for next years Grand Brighton Half Marathon.

Helen Jones, CEO of MindOut said: “We are so grateful and so impressed by the Bear-Patrol runners who raised such a fantastic amount at The Grand Brighton Half Marathon, they are brilliant ! The money raised will go towards our low cost counselling service.”

For more information on Team entries for the Grand Brighton Half Marathon 2020 and other Bear-Patrol events in 2019 contact Danny by email on info@bearpatrol.org.uk

 

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