Councillor told "you ought to be embarrassed" following comments during Black Lives Matter motion

The motion, proposed by Labour councillor Kerry Albiston, called upon Rotherham councillors to strengthen the council's anti-racism approach, and stand in solidarity with black and minority ethnic communities.

Councillor Alan Napper of the Rotherham Democratic Party, told the meeting he supports all lives matter as well as the Black Lives Matter movement during a debate about the topic.

Councillor Napper said: "While I support Black Lives Matter, I also support all lives matter, and it seems a bit inappropriate from a Labour Council going on about Black Lives Matter and other people matter when today, a court case has just gone and found them in breach of racism rules with regard to anti Semitism.

"While we're on Black Lives Matter, everybody's failed to know that black lives don't matter to a lot of black people because Rwanda, it was black on black, we've got Al Shabaab and Boko Haram who are killing black people every single day.

"All lives matter, and just to say black lives matter , I think is wrong. All lives matter, doesn't matter what race you are.

"But I do support the motion."

Councillor Allen Cowles, also of the Rotherham Democratic Party added that racism should be "unequivocally condemned", but that he was concerned that the motion only dealt with a "single ethic group."

"The arguments I have heard so far are probably as gauche as they are unnecessary. Even worse, they are proposed by the Labour Party, that is still being investigated for its anti-Semitic views and comments," added Coun Cowles.

"So I ask, why not Jewish lives matter, or Rotherham lives matter.

"Or better still, the lives of young girls in our town, do you think those young people feel their lives matter when no-one in a responsible position has been held to account?

"Toppling statues, spraying graffiti on the statue of Winston Churchill, or trying to set fire to the union flag on the Cenotaph was the cause of more harm than good, and it will not transform our inner cities.

"How is this organisation [Black Lives Matter] funded, where does the money come from and where does it go?

"It comes from donors around the world, rich and poor, celebrities and other virtue signalling individuals. The organisation Black Lives Matter is actually Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. They're not a charity, but should pay tax on revenues, but avoid this by association with third parties who are able to provide IRS exemption."

However Coun David Roche hit back, saying that Councillor Cowles should be "embarrassed" about his remarks, adding that he was trying to score "cheap political points".

Coun Roche said: "I am surprised, embarrassed and concerned about Councillor Cowles' political rant, trying to score cheap political emotive points.

"Read the motion councillor Cowles, it says nothing at all about supporting the Black Lives Foundation. The recommendations talk about making Rotherham an anti-racist town.

"Most of the points you name are totally irrelevant to this motion. You ought to be embarrassed of yourself."

Councillor Brian Steele added: "When Councillor Cowles made that point, that was the old UKIP kind of statements which were coming back, that's the racist kind of view coming back.

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