By Southampton Green Councillor Misty Burgess.
I welcome the withdrawal of Councillor Crook’s motion ‘Southampton City Council: Flags’, which would have limited the council to only fly the Union, St George’s, Southampton City and Hampshire Flags from the Civic Centre Building.
To me and many others, this motion appears to be nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate and alienate vulnerable minority communities in the city disguised as patriotism. Merely hearing and discussing this motion would lend legitimacy to those who would deny representation to queer, faith and global majority communities at a time when they are living under increasing levels of danger and discrimination. As such, I question the judgement of allowing the motion to be placed on the agenda at all.
Furthermore, my colleagues and I were informed that our motion on the EHRC draft code of practice was to be pushed to September, with the reason stated that 9 motions was too many to be heard at July council, and that time sensitive motions would be prioritised. I was thus deeply disappointed to find out that this, of all motions, was on the agenda. It was clearly not a time-sensitive issue, as demonstrated by its last-minute withdrawal. Any debate on it would have been a spurious mockery of our democracy and a waste of members’ time.
I question what message we as a council are sending to our trans, non-binary, and intersex residents by delaying efforts to protect their rights whilst tabling a motion which is clearly designed to prevent Pride Flags, amongst others, from being flown at the seat of our democracy. It was an honour for me and other Green Councillors to stand alongside protestors ahead of the council meeting and show that at least some in the council stand and will fight for and with them.
I am concerned that Councillor Crook intends to bring this motion back to council. It seems to be little more than a performative tactic to sow division in our society. As such, if he does, I expect it to be roundly and thoroughly rejected by the members of the council.
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