Standing in solidarity with black communities

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats are joining this protest today to show we stand in solidarity with black communities in the USA, UK and around the world.  We know we are living through a moment in history where our values are challenged, and as liberals we stand on the side of racial and social justice. 

In the UK 26% of instances of police using firearms are against black people, despite black people making up only 3.3% of the population. 51% of young men in custody in the UK are from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds, despite these groups making up only 14% of the UK population. Furthermore, black people in Cambridgeshire are 6.6 times more likely to be on the receiving end of stop and search police activities.

Here in Cambridgeshire, the Liberal Democrats will:

·       Adopt an actively anti-racist outlook within areas we have influence, by routinely calling for transparent reporting and continuous monitoring of the impact of these organisations on the BAME community: for example, continuing to request reporting on the BAME pay gap. 

·       Scrutinise and act on any available information about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BAME communities in Cambridgeshire.

·       Work with the LibDem Campaign for Racial Equality to develop policies to inform our work with BAME community in Cambridgeshire.

·       Acknowledge the need to challenge ourselves as individuals and in our own organisation about the dangers of unconscious bias.