Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 10 June 2020
10 Jun 2020 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Showing Solidarity with Anti-racism
The police violence in the United States, which was evidenced most recently in the murder of George Floyd, is reprehensible. That was one sickening incident in the litany of violent horrors that we see from across the Atlantic on our televisions. However, anyone watching in horror here from 4,000 miles away and thinking that Scotland is not racist, or that our institutions and structures and our Scottish society are fair and equal, would be wrong.
International solidarity is crucial, but if we are really honest, it is also pretty easy. In welcoming the debate, the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights stated:
“Racism will not end with passing motions in Parliament. Without long-term commitments to anti-racist actions and policies, we will not be able to reduce and ultimately eradicate racism in Scotland.”
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
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The Minister for Older People and Equalities (Christina McKelvie)
SNP
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Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
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Christina McKelvie
SNP
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Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
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Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I join others in acknowledging the events that have prompted us to have this debate at this time: the extraordinary impact of the Black Lives Matter movement...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to open the debate on behalf of the Conservative Party. I thank the Scottish Government for bringing the debate to the chamber and allowing us, ...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
What a privilege it is to follow such an emotional and powerful speech from Brian Whittle. I commend him for it. It is entirely right that the Parliament is ...
Linda Fabiani (East Kilbride) (SNP)
SNP
Like everyone else in the chamber, I have an inbox full of emails from constituents about what happened to George Floyd in America. What struck me about it w...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank members for the tone of the debate so far, which is a testament to how we as a Parliament are approaching the subject. Like many others in the chamb...
Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
SNP
Many members have talked about the horror of watching the footage that has come out of the United States recently. There are almost no words to describe the ...
Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the debate, but it is actions that matter, not words. Unless I feel uncomfortable saying the words, and unless members feel uncomfortable hearing t...
Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
SNP
It is a privilege to speak in this important debate. We hear that phrase often. However, today, I am also a bit ashamed of that privilege. The international...
Ruth Davidson (Edinburgh Central) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for holding the debate and I agree whole-heartedly with the motion. I hope that we all share the deep concern and horror that so many fe...
Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
SNP
The police violence in the United States, which was evidenced most recently in the murder of George Floyd, is reprehensible. That was one sickening incident ...
Neil Findlay
Lab
I agree with the member that things will not change by passing motions. The past few days have shown us that doing things in the establishment way and in a p...
Ruth Maguire
SNP
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Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to speak in this debate, but I do so very mindful of the fact that I am speaking as a white man. I will share my reflections on what has happene...
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
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The Deputy Presiding Officer (Lewis Macdonald)
Lab
We move to the closing speeches. 16:46
Patrick Harvie
Green
I will begin my summing up by talking about the issue that James Dornan just touched on: the idea of a museum of slavery. There has been significant support ...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
This has been an important debate. Our chamber time is limited during the pandemic, but the Black Lives Matter movement has focused minds on an issue that is...
Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
This has been an emotional debate, with many great contributions. The Scottish Conservatives stand with all parties in showing solidarity with anti-racism. ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Humza Yousaf)
SNP
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