George Floyd: Colonialism, Imperialism, and Ireland.

Since the killing of George Floyd there has been a lot of anger in the US and other countries as well as here in Ireland. His death, and the manner in which it happened, effectively launched a worldwide movement which has laid bare the racial and class divide across the globe.

There is now an ongoing debate among activists about how we go about removing street names and statues of those who were behind slavery and colonialism.

The descendants of people like George Floyd were brought as slaves from Africa and ever since those very people have been treated as second class citizens and many are still treated as slaves in overcrowded prisons.

Since Ireland has been occupied by the English we have witnessed many injustices such as massacres and banishment to far flung places such as the West Indies. It is estimated that as many as 80,000 women, men and children were used as slaves and the man responsible was Oliver Cromwell.

This same man is seen by many in England as a hero and a statue stands outside a Parliament building in London where for centuries English politicians drew up plans for slavery and other draconian measures that have caused untold heartache to not only the Irish but to others throughout the world.

In Belfast there is a street named after Cromwell and there are many others in the city named after people who have been to the fore in spreading terror throughout Ireland. Norbury Street, off the Glen Road in the West of the city, is named after a British judge who was referred to as ‘The Hanging Judge’. One of the most notorious ‘trials’ he was involved in was that of Robert Emmet when he interrupted and abused him before sentencing him to hang.

Many streets in the city centre are also named after English monarchs such as Victoria (the famine queen), Albert and prominent English soldiers like Chichester, Donegall, Wellington, Carlisle, Arthur, Anne and May.

If we delve further into the names of streets throughout districts across Ireland no doubt we will find the names of those whose contribution to Ireland was a significantly negative one.

In Germany, statues of Hitler and other Nazis were removed. In Belgium many are calling for the removal of statues and street names erected in memory of King Leopold; who was responsible for colonialism in much of Central Africa.

We don’t need liberals to tell us that they should be kept on plinths to remind us of the history of these individuals.

Tear them down.