As a region, Liverpool has always stood up against injustice. Today, at the start of Pride month, civic buildings across Liverpool and beyond will be illuminated purple in memory of #GeorgeFloyd and to show communities, everywhere, that justice must be seen.
In solidarity, we too are turning our channels purple for the countless victims of racism, harassment and brutality in America, the UK and throughout the world – the same brutality and violence that our community has been subjected to.
Fifty-one years ago this month, at the Stonewall Inn in New York City members of the LGBT+ community stood against the police harassment and brutality, with people of colour at the forefront of that resistance – Marsha P Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Stormé DeLarverie to name just a few.Â
This is why many people around the world celebrate Pride month in June. That night and the six days that followed it were a catalyst for change. Although there is still much to be done, we have come as far as we have because of what happened in Stonewall on 28th June, 1969.Â
To remain silent now would be to deny our community’s history and forget those people who stood up for us and our right to live and love freely.
That’s why today and every day, we stand with all those calling out systemic racism and violence in the US, around the globe and here, at home, in the UK.
We will not be silent. We will not be complicit. We will be part of the change.
