Saturday 12 November 2011

Boris accused of 'cultural cleansing' after removing the word 'black' from title of conference for schoolchildren

Boris Johnson's education conference had 150 people attending as opposed to the 3,500 that normally attend. I think it's significant sign that he has now lost the support of our community - Lee Jasper (Picture by Lester Holloway)

Daily Mail article:
London Mayor Boris Johnson has been accused of 'cultural cleansing' and 'hijacking' a conference for black schoolchildren.

Protesters will gather outside the event in London which has in the past been called the London Schools and the Black Child conference.

It will now be called the ‘London Schools and our Children Conference.It is also understood that Diane Abott pulled out of the event but Boris Johnson’s office last night claimed she had left the project unexpectedly and before it was renamed.

It will now be called the ‘London Schools and our Children Conference.
It is also understood that Diane Abott pulled out of the event but Boris Johnson’s office last night claimed she had left the project unexpectedly and before it was renamed.


But furious campaigners also accused Boris Johnson of inviting only Right Wing speakers to air their views at the conference which is being held at London’s Institute of Education.

Campaigner Lee Jasper said: 'This is part of the mayor’s plan to culturally-cleanse London of all race-specific initiatives.

'The entire platform of speakers is of the view that institutional racism does not exist.

'This is the typical response of those on the Right who seek to dismiss the reality of racism and place the blame on the victims.'

Fellow campaigner Lester Holloway added: 'LSBC has always given a platform to a range of views about how to raise achievement of black children and tackle the barriers that hold them back.

'This year’s panel has been picked to echo the mayor’s own opinions, which has no credibility in the community.”

But last night Boris Johnson’s office hit back said that Diane Abbott had pulled out of the event at the “last minute” and organisers wanted to keep the conference going.

A spokeswoman said: 'We had to rename the conference because Diane of her own accord pulled out and that name was associated with her.

'We wanted to carry on this important event despite the timing of her pulling out and so we have gone ahead under a slightly different name.'
Listra Dawn Gilzene speaks out outside the conference, which had been hijacked by Boris. (Picture by Lester Holloway)
Lee Jasper protests outside the conference (Picture by Lester Holloway)
Protesters outside the conference (Photos by Lester Holloway)




 Article first published at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/  Photos by Lester Holloway.