No to the proposal for a blue plaque for Enoch Powell – statement launched by Black Country Stand up to Racism
To Wolverhampton Civic and Historical Society
In Wolverhampton and the wider Black Country we have built strong, positive and resilient bonds between people from different parts of our diverse community. We celebrate the diversity within the Black Country and are proud of the culture of mutual respect between people.
Wolverhampton MP Enoch Powell’s racist “rivers of blood speech”, delivered in Birmingham 50 years ago, was about the promotion of division and hate. Fortunately, with the hard work of all those who opposed his nightmare vision, he has been shown to be fundamentally wrong in his predictions for the future of the Black Country and Britain as a whole.
The proposal to put up a ‘Blue Plaque’ to commemorate Powell’s connection with Wolverhampton is wrong. A person’s notoriety cannot, in itself, be sufficient reason for a plaque to be displayed. His contribution was destructive.
As menacing forces of prejudice and hate once again gather across parts of Europe, we must remember where that led not so long ago. Instead of commemorating Powell, we need to continue to resist those who would sow seeds of racism, hatred and division.
We look forward to continuing to work to develop an inclusive and prosperous Wolverhampton and Black Country for all.
Signatories to date:
Rt Rev Dr Michael Ipgrave The Bishop of Lichfield
Rt Rev Clive Gregory The Bishop of Wolverhampton
Pat McFadden MP Wolverhampton South East
Emma Reynolds MP Wolverhampton North
Eleanor Smith MP Wolverhampton South West
Roger Lawrence Leader of Wolverhampton City Council
Parveen Brigue Chair & Hindu representative Interfaith Wolverhampton
Lee Baron Midlands TUC Regional SecretaryObaida Ahmed Prospective Labour Councillor in Wolverhampton
Paul Agg Secretary Walsall TUC
Dr Pauline Anderson Social Sciences, University of Wolverhampton
Jefny Ashcroft Wolverhampton Playwright
Rhys Attwell Wolves University, Student Stand Up to Racism
Darren Barton National Education Union (NUT) Sandwell Divisional Secretary
Cllr Mary Bateman Wolverhampton Wednesfield North Ward
Cllr Philip Bateman MBE City of Wolverhampton Wednesfield North Ward
Howard Beckett Unite Assistant General Secretary
David Bennett Local historian & co-ordinator of Black History Month, Wolverhampton
Inderjit Bhogal Methodist minister, President of City of Sanctuary
Cllr Peter Bilson City of Wolverhampton Bushbury S & Low Hill Ward, Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing
Kieran Bott Wolves University, Student Stand Up to Racism
Cllr Greg Brackenridge City of Wolverhampton Wednesfield South Ward
Russ Bragger National Education Union (NUT) Walsall Divisional Secretary
Stephen Brown Musicians’ Union Midlands Regional Organiser
Vanley Burke Photographer
Dr Aidan Byrne Senior Lecturer in English, University of Wolverhampton
Dr George Campbell Gosling Lecturer in History, University of Wolverhampton
John Catley Chair of Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary
Anand Chabra Black Country Visual Arts
Dharminder Chuhan Black Country Stand Up to Racism & UCU
Dorothy Clarke (Heath) Past Secretary, Walsall TUC
Cllr Craig Collingswood City of Wolverhampton, Park Ward
Revd Christopher Collins Minister of Darlington Street Methodist Church & Sec of Interfaith Wolverhampton
Dr. Simon Constantine Senior Lecturer in History, University of Wolverhampton.
Dr Ben Curtis Research Fellow in History, University of Wolverhampton
Maxine Douglas Jubilee Community Support Centre
Cllr Steve Evans City of Wolverhampton Fallings Park Ward, Cabinet Member for City Environment
Rev Cassius Francis Wesleyan Holiness Church
Kathryn Gaffney Secretary West Midlands Hazards Trust
Larry Gaffney Chair, UNITE 7685 Branch
Jana Gardner Wolves University, Student Stand Up to Racism
Revd Ray Gaston Bishops’ Interfaith Enabler & Vicar of Church of St Chad & St Mark, Parish of Central Wolverhampton
Cllr Val Gibson City of Wolverhampton Bilston East Ward, Cabinet member for Children and Young People
Veronica Grant Disability & Black members rep for UCU and Senior Lecturer, University of Wolverhampton
Adam Gray Wolves University, Student Stand Up to Racism
Dr Stephen E. Gregg Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies – University of Wolverhampton,
Lisa Harrison Creative Practitioner at West Park Primary School
Revd David Haslam
Annie Heppenstall West Midlands Area Minister of the Society of St Francis, Third Order
Dr Shirin Hirsch Research Fellow in History, University of Wolverhampton
Cllr Julie Hodgkiss City of Wolverhampton Oxley Ward
Dr Shirin Housee Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Wolverhampton
Dr David Hussey Head of Department for History, Politics and War Studies, University of Wolverhampton
Dr Steve Iafrati Senior Lecturer in Social Policy, University of Wolverhampton
Cllr Doug James Walsall Darlaston Ward
Cllr Doug James Walsall Darlaston South Ward
Cllr Milkinder Jaspal City of Wolverhampton Heath Town Ward, Cabinet Member for Governance
Cllr Jasbir Jaspal City of Wolverhampton Heath Town Ward
Mike Kelley National Education Union (ATL) Dudley Secretary
Josh Largent Wolves University, Student Stand Up to Racism
Rhiannon Lockley University and Colleges Union West Midlands Chair and NEC
Martin Lynch Black Country Stand up to Racism
Andrew Maybury Secretary Dudley TUC
Edward McGong Senior Steward, UNITE
Christine McGowan Newhampton Arts Centre
Roger Mckenzie UNISON Assistant General Secretary
Dr Grace Millar Research Fellow in History, University of Wolverhampton
Joe Moreton Wolves University, Student Stand Up to Racism
Cllr Aftab Nawaz Walsall St Mathews Ward, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services
Martin Ogilvie National Education Union Regional Officer
Dr Eamonn O’Kane Politics, University of Wolverhampton PTO
Sam Ord Wolves University, Student Stand Up to Racism
Lisa Pearce National Education Union (NUT) Dudley Joint Divisional Secretary
Rev Dr David Primrose Diocesan Director of Transforming Communities
Dr Sam Pryke Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Wolverhampton
Dr Michael Rees Lecturer in Sociology, University of Wolverhampton
Cllr John Reynolds City of Wolverhampton Graisley Ward, Cabinet Member for City Economy
Cllr Judith Rowley City of Wolverhampton Blakenhall Ward
Sian Ruddick PCS Union Regional Chair
Yusuf Shafi Vice Chair & Muslim representative Wolverhampton InterFaith
Bhagwant Singh Indian Workers Association
Martin Snell Treasurer Dudley TUC
Mary Solomon Humans of Wolverhampton
Ravi Subramanian UNISON West Midlands Regional Secretary
Cllr Paul Sweet City of Wolverhampton Bushbury South and Low Hill Ward, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing
Opinderjit Takhar Sikh representative on Interfaith Wolverhampton
Buye Temba Wolves Uni, Diversity Rep
Professor Laura Ugolini History, University of Wolverhampton
Patrick Vernon Writer and activist
Cllr Martin Waite City of Wolverhampton Penn Ward
Ursula Walker Treasurer, Walsall National Education Union (NUT)
Rev Dr Sue Walker Minister, Lea Road Community Church (URC)
Jim Warner Dudley TUC Assistant Sec
Penny Welch member of UCU, University of Wolverhampton
Marion West Senior Lecturer in Linguistics and Sociology, University of Wolverhampton
Andrew Willets Dudley UNISON steward
David Wyatt Retired Social worker, ex Sandwell Unison Branch chair
To add you name email: BlackCountry.StandUpToRacism@gmail.com
