Forum Topic

BLM banner hung on Westminster School rowing club

Very rarely see a black rower at any of these rowing clubs, it's all tokenism, should become a comprehensive or Academy for  true equality, not hang these signs as a token gesture to an organisation who wants to overturn capitalism, excluding private schools, of course!!

Penelope Becker ● 2108d20 Comments

I wholeheartedly agree with what SHOULD be the spirit and essence of BLM. But from what I've read recently, they have a hard core of anarchists who want to abolish the Police, overthrow capitalism and bring mayhem to the world.I would be very careful about jumping on this particular bandwagon!!

Bunny Payne ● 2105d

My understanding is the BLM US and UK organisations are separate and the UK one has more left wing aims, although I think it's difficult to ascertain what the aims of the organisation is as opposed to those of individual members. In practice most people separate the sentiments and main reasons for BLM from the organisations - as many sporting supporters are international I doubt they associate with BLM US or UK? For example, when Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes race in black to support BLM I doubt they're in favour of supporting the end of capitalism? (Although, many large corporates are happy to take government COVID handouts - does that mean they're converting from capitalism to socialism like the banks did in 2008?(!!!) The only questioning I've heard of BLM UK is from some football clubs but football's equality reputation doesn't seem exemplary.) As  I said at the start, most people associate BLM with what it means rather an organisation.

Michael Ixer ● 2106d

Yes the SWP constantly turn up at XR events, the XR policy is to ignore them, refuse to hold their placards etc. After all, we are non-political ;)In truth they are quite annoying because their presence makes some people assume that we are 'in' with them.

Matt Palmer ● 2106d

Isn’t the antifa an entirely American movement?  What evidence is there of a similar movement over here?  Certainly there are elements who use BLM and similar movements as a vehicle to promote their own agenda. I saw a BLM rally in Tottenham and there were Socialist Workers Party activists there too. Matt may correct me but SWP types have seen at XR events and I remember seeing a couple of them at an anti-Brexit march.  They’re just looking to piggyback on wider issues. That doesn’t add up to an organised subversive conspiracy.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2106d

"The USA government have just announced they plan to designate Antifa are a terrorist organisation."The only thing wrong with that? Antifa isn't an organization at all, but a loose conglomeration of vaguely like-minded people. As usual, Trump has tweeted without the precaution of thinking first.

Richard Carter ● 2106d

We have already refunded the police.Just look at the drop in numbers. Which was under a Conservative governments!The US is different they have huge police budgets and military style policing but hardly any other social services. Not to mention an enormous prison population. Defunding the police in the US as I understand it means diverting resources into prevention, mental health etc not to have no police.There are some conversations that have kicked off in the UK looking at the efficiency and value the whole criminal justice syste. How to get reoffending rates down, early prevention for young offenders etc.I think we all agree we want less crime, less offenders and less repeat offenders. If people think we can't do better then that's fare enough but it has been remarked that it costs more to send someone to prison than it does Eton. Not fact checked that but I think people get the jis.

Ed Robinson ● 2106d

I think the original concept of defunding the police in the US sounded like it had some merit. I think it was that you would take money from the police and give it to social services. Then you would ensure that in a mental health situation the first responder would be a social worker instead of armed police.

Matt Palmer ● 2106d

Most people support the concept of BLM and rightly so,  but I certainly don't support the left wing ideology of the political group BLM.They are just race baiting and causing division in society.They are 2 separate things completely, but unfortunately they have become tangled and have the same name.The political party BLM who are a Marxist party, are calling for the defunding of the Police, and the release of all prisoners from jail. They just want to create havoc in society.Haven't the left been screaming out for years that the Police are underfunded, and now they are scraeming for the defunding of the Police? Doesn't make sense to me.Whilst trying to hide what they are really all about, the political group BLM have become bosom buddies with Antifa.The USA government have just announced they plan to designate Antifa are a terrorist organisation.I've researched Antifa quite a lot since a previous poster talked about this group and they are nothing but a bunch of thugs.Google them and see for yourselves.

Mike Essam ● 2106d

"Might have see a racist rower or twenty". What exactly are you basing accusation on? Did  you want to row but were refused membership because of your colour? Are you stating for a fact that just because there are few, in your opinion, black rowers in evidence that that means they are excluded because they are black and that's the reason? Therefore rowers are racist? Rather than there just aren't many black people who row? Please make it clear. You're accusing a whole batch of people of being racists.

Freddie Francis ● 2106d

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-england-london-38500391

Aline Brandao ● 2106d

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/oxford-boat-race-rower-benedict-aldous-wore-kkk-fancy-dress-to-party-dfg326h2c

Aline Brandao ● 2106d

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/thetab.com/uk/oxford/2018/03/24/boat-race-ism-silence-on-rowing-race-issues-highlights-institutionalised-white-privilege-28568/amp

Aline Brandao ● 2106d

You may not have seen a black rower but you most certainly have come across a racist rower or two or twenty. BLM movement is about protesting racism and the point is to reach racists and people who might not think themselves to be racists but act like and do not stand up for racism, which is a plague that affect all humans directly or indirectly. As for overthrowing capitalism and getting rid of private schools, yes that is definitely the main force behind oppression in the sense that inequality, poverty and human exploitation are the pillars of the capitalist system.

Aline Brandao ● 2106d

My son was a Queen’s Scholar at Westminster. We’re not rich. Quite a high proportion of the pupils (both boys and girls) were from BAME backgrounds. Interestingly I noticed the banner the other day, I thought it was a bit pretentious that the banner wording was in Latin.PSIf you are a scholar you sleep in the College dormitory across the road from the Palace of Westminster, close to Big Ben. My son complained that the bongs kept him awake, but he got used to them. Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 2108d

Freddie the link you sent looks like an excellent initiative. It does seem to be primarily aimed at Hammersmith and Fulham with secondary consideration for the other schools in riverside boroughs. How much this actually means for Putney/Wandsworth I'm not sure.The original post was very specifically aimed at Putney imo perhaps I got that wrong and it was a general rowing elitist dig. I'm not sure.It would be great if Wandsworth could emulate the H&F aims along Putney. Perhaps they already do???

Ed Robinson ● 2108d

Not the point. Addressing the broad issue of elitist accusations. As you well know. Sorry if that spoils your agenda. And it's news to me that discussions on this page are limited to Putney. Hilarious.

Freddie Francis ● 2108d

Freddie, I didn't study geography but I believe that is north of the river and not in Putney.

Ed Robinson ● 2108d

This might satisfy the anti-elists among you: https://www.fulhamreachboatclub.co.uk/

Freddie Francis ● 2108d

Does Westminster School rowing club share their facilities with a local secondary school such as Elliot or Wandsworth for example??

Ed Robinson ● 2108d

Are you trying to say that the clubs are consciously excluding black members? i.e racist? Please clarify. Or are you just having a poke what you perceive elitist schools and institutions and are using the banner as an excuse?

Freddie Francis ● 2108d