Statement by Coventry Lord Mayor’s Committee for Peace and Reconciliation on George Floyd’s Death and Police Violence

Since George Floyd’s death at the hands of a police officer in the US city of Minneapolis there have been protests across the world, including in Coventry.  Recent events have shown that there are deep structural fractures in the fabric of our society, no matter where we live or the colour of our skin.

Racism shows up in all aspects of our lives and society:  in interpersonal communication, through discriminatory policies and practices, in biased language, and in our laws and institutions. We know that left unchecked, hate and bias can escalate and lead to dire outcomes.

Coventry Lord Mayor’s Committee for Peace and Reconciliation works to promote the city’s agenda as a City of Peace and Reconciliation both within Coventry and more widely. We as a committee have a commitment to speak out against racism.

We heartily agree with the following statement made by Coventry University’s Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR) that racism – whether cultural, structural or direct – is violence. Indeed, we believe it is violence against all of humanity and that race-based discrimination of any nature is unacceptable. With CTPSR we stand in solidarity with those who protest peacefully, and condemn responses that rely on escalation and violence.

The Committee agrees with bodies and people in Coventry who are peacefully demonstrating for change and hereby add our voice to their concerns.

www.CoventryCityOfPeace.uk

7 June 2020

Statement from Coventry University’s Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations

Core to the work of the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University is commitment to build trust in order to foster peaceful relations, strengthen human security and challenge inequality. This commitment guides the day-to-day activities of all staff in the Centre, and is the bedrock of our research and output.

Racism – whether cultural, structural, or direct – is violence. Race-based discrimination of any nature is unacceptable. CTPSR therefore stands in solidarity with those who protest peacefully, commits proudly to reject racism, and unequivocally condemns responses that intentionally rely on escalation and violence.

Black Lives Matter.

04 June 2020