Greg Evans
Jun 09, 2020
In response to the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests, Boris Johnson has boldly claimed that the UK is 'not racist.'
In a video shared on Twitter, the prime minister spoke of the emotions and anger that have resonated since the footage of George Floyd's death at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis went viral.
He added that he believed that society was "much, much less racist than it was" but that there was still a lot more to do on tackling issues of injustice and inequality.
Johnson complimented those who took part in the peaceful part of the protests and observed social distancing but was quick to condemn those that didn't and engaged in acts of violence and vandalism, which he had referred to as 'thuggery.'
Let us work peacefully and lawfully to defeat racism and discrimination wherever we find it, and let us continue to… https://t.co/N9wKetEgTw— Boris Johnson (@Boris Johnson) 1591644669
This statement was longer and slightly different to the one that was given to the press by a Downing Street spokesperson on Monday afternoon, which claimed that Johnson didn't believe that the UK was a racist country.
The PM doesn’t doubt that there continues to be discrimination and racism, but does not agree that this is a racist country. We have made very significant progress on this issue, but there remains more to do and we will not be complacent in our efforts to stamp out racism and discrimination where it happens.
As you can probably guess the response to this statement has not been greeted with overwhelming enthusiasm with many people sharing examples of racism that they have experienced or been reported in the UK in recent years including from the prime minister himself.
Boris Johnson calls black people "piccaninnies". His party stripped black Windrush Britons of healthcare and housi… https://t.co/emnK2gPI3Z— Owen Jones 🌹 (@Owen Jones 🌹) 1591653860
Wow. I'm not racist says @BorisJohnson Video released of UK ambassador stopping Boris Johnson reciting colonial p… https://t.co/b49qnADMXr— Enilorac (@Enilorac) 1591649132
BBC: UK isn’t racist Also BBC: here’s a ten part series on how the government illegally and immorally deported loads of black people— 🇸🇱 🇩🇲 🇱🇨 (@🇸🇱 🇩🇲 🇱🇨) 1591645048
Boris Johnson on Africa. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/vkl9l4K30R— James Melville (@James Melville) 1591653180
This is a UK response to BLM? This country is 100% racist https://t.co/3YmUujvn13— SS (@SS) 1591456305
Man who spoke of black people as “piccaninnies” now instructs us about his achievements in race relations. Utterly… https://t.co/1eK4TVmWrz— Gavin Esler (@Gavin Esler) 1591646197
Ok cool. How do I lawfully and peacefully report your 2004 novel and all your articles? https://t.co/27npCOZ4yq— Tiernan Douieb (@Tiernan Douieb) 1591645271
This insanely belittles the #BlackLivesMatter cause. George Floyd is every Black death at UK #PoliceBrutality; the… https://t.co/Ped9B5JB0M— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu) 1591653602
Soon #ToryRacism was trending on Twitter with many pointing towards the Windrush scandal, Brexit and the lack of diversity in Tory HQ.
I'm not saying the tories are racist, but this is their *London* based campaign team in CCHQ last year. "Best pers… https://t.co/Sv2LnDu0GK— Andy Ballingall #FBPA #BLM 🏳️🌈 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇩🇪🤝 (@Andy Ballingall #FBPA #BLM 🏳️🌈 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇩🇪🤝) 1591681543
Literally Bozo's Referendum Campaign 👇 #ToryRacism https://t.co/xl2BssHELZ— Marie-Ann Hates Tories and Brexit (@Marie-Ann Hates Tories and Brexit) 1591665215
@BorisJohnson Hypocrite! Where's the BAME covid report? Why bring up windrush? An egregious failing of your party.… https://t.co/K62zo0JBwx— Marc Mc Loughlin 💙 (@Marc Mc Loughlin 💙) 1591664551
I'm not saying the tories are racist, but the "Party of Law and Order" didn't think that "innocent until proven gui… https://t.co/oQ7c5I27rw— Andy Ballingall #FBPA #BLM 🏳️🌈 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇩🇪🤝 (@Andy Ballingall #FBPA #BLM 🏳️🌈 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇩🇪🤝) 1591682969
NEVER forget that behind and enabling #ToryRacism were all the Murdoch tabloids. Who have just been given a shedloa… https://t.co/I5Dawne57k— 🐟💻carol hedges (@🐟💻carol hedges) 1591687194
Windrush: These MPs voted to block release of secret documents #ToryRacism https://t.co/1EAC6jlkMO— Al green 💙💙💙 (@Al green 💙💙💙) 1591680919
The fact that a Tory councilor & constituency chair said that vile racist slur and still holds that position tells… https://t.co/y5TDuJjs8H— Elizabeth Murray (@Elizabeth Murray) 1591652702
Labour's Dawn Butler had also released a video on Sunday detailing how systematic racism still existed in the UK.
Until we dismantle the systemic racism that exists in society we are never going to make the progress that we need… https://t.co/lBXp91zY8G— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙) 1591540042
The home secretary, Priti Patel has also apologised to those people affected by the Windrush scandal, which was presented in the BBC drama Sitting in Limbo which aired last night.
However, many felt that she needed to do a lot more than simply apologise.
#SittingInLimbo epitomises the unimaginable suffering endured by the Windrush generation. On behalf of successive g… https://t.co/TUGHDa9GKh— Priti Patel (@Priti Patel) 1591650019
@pritipatel @ukhomeoffice Take down statues commemorating slave owners first...— Tez (@Tez) 1591659173
@pritipatel @ukhomeoffice that's great. can i have an answer please? https://t.co/nGGMTbndTC— Chris Boyd 🇬🇧🇵🇭 (@Chris Boyd 🇬🇧🇵🇭) 1591650485
@pritipatel @ukhomeoffice I've criticized plenty so only fair to say, you guys watched racism, voted for racism, an… https://t.co/oIs9isLjOs— Dr Meenal Viz | Search: Meenal's World Podcast 🎧 (@Dr Meenal Viz | Search: Meenal's World Podcast 🎧) 1591664263
@pritipatel @ukhomeoffice https://t.co/yukFOrNBhH— In Limbo (@In Limbo) 1591652331
Thanks for developing a conscience, Priti! Well you're here can you pls: - Drop the NHS surcharge for all migrants… https://t.co/NwztELK4ye— Zing Tsjeng (@Zing Tsjeng) 1591651807
And what have you learnt? why haven't you implemented the lessons learnt review? why hide all the recommendations.… https://t.co/oi36CwPSo9— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙) 1591650520
It's safe to say that whatever the prime minister has said that the UK still has an overwhelming problem with racism.
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