Dear friends

Regrettably, racism, or at least retaliation against Belly for making a complaint of racism at work, is likely to be very much an operating factor in this tragedy.  

We also know that black workers have been disproportionately lost during Covid 19 for many multifactorial reasons, all of which are likely to be underpinned to a greater or lesser extent by racism. 

More black people than white live in poverty, more work in the low wage economy and in insecure work, more face problems at work, and more are denied PPE by virtue of being in worse employment. Women receive 18% less pay then men. Black workers receive 37% less pay than white workers. These are the facts. 

Whether the white male who assaulted Belly was consciously or unconsciously motivated by racism is something that will be found out in time, when he is exposed and questioned about that. 

It does not matter on one level, as whatever the motivation, is was still an assault and it was still unlawful harassment.  

Further, this is a human tragedy much more than a racist tragedy. No human deserves to be treated in that horrible manner or to lose their life (or be injured) as a result of it. 

No worker should be assaulted at work.

Every worker should be safe at work. 

That said, most would agree that no worker should be subject to racism or race victimisation at work in a fair society. 

To be clear this petition is not connected in any way to the #BlackLivesMatter organisation.

For most people, BLM is a hashtag for everyone who opposes racism to unite around.    

For most people, #BlackLivesMatter is simply a hashtag that Black Lives do Matter and cannot and should not be damaged, destroyed or ended by the racism. It is an idea rather than an organisation. 

In this case, it is Belly's family that need your ongoing support to find justice. Not any organisation or movement.

It is the justice for Belly's family that Matters. 

Be well,

Lawrence