BIRMINGHAM'S APOLOGY FOR SLAVERY

28-08-2007

Former Birmingham Council cabinet member John Tyrrell has answered Jesse Jackson's call for an apology for slavery - by issuing his own.

As The Stirrer reported last week, Jackson made the request on his visit to Cannon Street Baptist church in Handsworth (see here)

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has already said "sorry" for his city's role in the trade, but so far there's no sign of his Brum equivalent Mike Whitby following suit - as if!

So Tyrell - once Cabinet Member for Transport in the Labour administration - has decided to take the initiative, and as well as Whitby he's also challenging Lib Dem leader Paul Tilsley and Labour head honcho Sir Albert Bore.

Tyrell writes on his blog: "As a Birmingham citizen, former Labour Councillor representing a Handsworth ward let me put forward an apology. Birmingham manufactured guns, Birmingham manufactured chains and shackles.

"Birmingham still does and one of its clients is Guantanamo Bay! Let Mike Whitby repudiate this, let Paul Tilsley repudiate this. Let Albert Bore repudiate this.

"We are deeply sorry for the centuries of violence, degradation and death inflicted on those taken from their African homes and the exploitation of their labour and resources.

"In doing so we pledge to build a society based on equality and to right the continuing consequences, the enduring legacy left by slavery."

(see more at http://www.johntyrrell.co.uk/)