MIKE HILL: Tragic death of George Floyd must mark a turning point in the struggle against racial discrimination

It highlighted yet again the racism embedded in elements of American society and many of its institutions. It started an important conversation across nations and held a mirror to the past. It touched the souls of millions of people who, in the midst of a global pandemic which has disproportionately affected BAME communities everywhere, gathered together in predominantly peaceful protest to say enough is enough under the banner of ‘Black Lives Matter.’

Throughout the COVID 19 crisis the people of Hartlepool have stood together across all communities, helping each other out and looking after our neighbours whatever their creed or colour. We have provided a united front against the hidden killer and rekindled our deep-rooted sense of commonality, decency and community. We are all in this together, as the saying goes, and we are emerging all the better for it.

Last Tuesday Labour MPs came together in Westminster and knelt as a mark of respect for George Floyd. We were social distancing, of course, but our hope, my hope, was that his tragic and needless death marked a turning of the page in the struggle against racial discrimination and intolerance. As I reflected upon Hartlepool and the journey we’ve been on fighting Coronavirus and standing together, my mind turned to those constituents who we have helped, but who could have easily fallen victim to the Windrush scandal; a cross that Theresa May’s Government will have to bear for years to come.

I do not condone riots, but I do agree with the right to peaceful protest; which by and large we have seen throughout the country over the past fortnight. I believe that we need to understand what has led us to things like Windrush in our own nation’s history and to learn from the past; that is why I support the subject of slavery and black history being introduced, along with further reforms, as part of the school curriculum.

You cannot understand where we are today without understanding the history that led us to this point. That means understanding and celebrating the good in our history, but recognising, discussing and learning from the bad aspects of it. Our nation’s history contains many shameful events and it is important that our children are taught to discuss and understand these events properly and learn from the horrors which were committed in the name of the British Empire. Only through understanding both can they learn from our history, learn not to repeat the bad and try to emulate the good.