21/06/2017

Call For Confederate Flag In Lisburn To Be Removed

The SDLP is calling for a Confederate flag put up in the Lisburn area to be removed.

Lagan Valley MLA Pat Catney said a number of concerned residents are "appalled" that a flag representing the enslavement of over three million people has been erected.

Mr Catney said: "What kind of message does this send to people from around the world who have chosen to make Lisburn their home? This is a direct insult to those who have come here to live and work as part of our local community.

"Are we to say that the politics of racism and slavery are acceptable in Lisburn in 2017? Every right thinking person in our community will reject this. Every political representative should be explicit in their condemnation of this racist act.

"I will be contacting the PSNI to ask them to remove these flags immediately. This is clearly a hate crime and should be treated as such."

(CD/LM)

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