Black Lives Matter here
Large numbers of people are expected to line Oban’s esplanade tomorrow, making a stand for Black Lives Matter (BLM).
The silent show of support along the sea front starts at 12.30pm on Friday June 19 and is being organised by Black Lives Matter Oban, a new community group with more than 265 Facebook members.
Lights at McCaig’s Tower will also be switched off over the weekend in solidarity with the worldwide anti-racism movement sparked by the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis last month.
Campaigners are asking people taking part in Friday’s action to bring placards but adhere to COVID-19 restrictions – maintaining a safe social distance and wearing face masks. Washable chalk will be used to mark 2m spaces.
‘We want to be clear it is not a protest. It’s a show of solidarity for the cause,’ said Georgina Stones, one of its organisers.
Argyll and Bute councillor Kieron Green, who says he has overheard racist remarks in the town, said Oban’s BLM campaign has his full support.
‘We live in a very rural part of Scotland where there are not high levels of ethnic minorities and therefore some seeing people who are not white on the street will make casual racist remarks. Are they meaning to be offensive? Possibly not, but I can see how it could still make people feel marginalised and not part of the community. There are other remarks made that go beyond casual. They all need to be addressed. Everyone should feel welcome here,’ he said.
BLM Oban is contacting businesses and organisations to secure window space for posters backing the movement and anti-racism. Oban Youth Cafe on George Street is one of the first premises to agree and has offered to display placards from Friday’s silent action.
Caitlin Campbell Smith, one of BLM Oban founders, said: ‘There will be those who think racism is not a problem in our little part of the world and it’s more of a city thing, but it is happening in Oban and people do feel it.
Anyone wanting to get in touch with BLM Oban can email obanblm@gmail.com
BLM Oban is also hosting an online rally on Saturday from 7-8pm. The group has organised ‘amazing list of speakers, local and national, to learn what we can do to help combat racism in Oban and beyond!’
Visit https://bit.ly/37zflA7 for more information.
The go-ahead to switch off McCaig’s lights tomorrow and Saturday night came after campaigners contacted Oban councillor Roddy McCuish. June 19, also known as Juneteenth, is celebrated in the US and many other countries to mark the end of slavery. On that day in 1865 slaves in Texas were told by Union soldiers they were free and that the Civil War had ended.
On Mull at the weekend, more than 60 placards and messages of BLM support were left on the Clock Tower in Tobermory’s Main Street, some written in Gaelic.
BLM Mull organiser
Alexandra Stevens said the response from the island was ‘overwhelming’ and that campaigners would keep the movement ‘moving forward’ long after lockdown.
Ideas include displaying the Clock Tower banners as some kind of long term art installation or an exhibition on the island and there are plans to create an online anti-racism community resource or archive for people to educate themselves more.
Alexandra, who runs The Gallery Cafe in Tobermory and recently returned from volunteering at a refugee camp in Bosnia, said: ‘For Mull it’s been an overwhelming response already.
‘People took the opportunity to make their voices heard. A lot of the messages were saying black lives matter more than white feelings.
‘There was a strong show of solidarity and recognition Scotland and Mull are not innocent.
‘BLM on Mull will keep growing. People want to keep it going long after lockdown,’ said Alexandra.
For more on Black Lives Matter, turn to page 12.