Thank you all for signing, sharing, and supporting this petition! I had intended to write this at 100 signatures, then that became 200, then 300, and now we are at over 500!
I wish to update you all on a few matters.
Firstly, several people have contacted me about other petitions with similar aims that are circulating. Together with several local activists and students, we have joined forces, and we are now campaigning under the united banner of 'Stortford Against Rhodes'. Please like, follow and share our Facebook Group, as we will be releasing all our latest information and campaign updates there as they happen. Of course I will keep you informed by this petition email update too.
Please feel free to continue to share this petition, as all signatures will be combined together.
Secondly, you may be aware that the Rhodes Arts Complex have released a statement. This can be read here.
We have welcomed their promptness and willingness to respond, however we feel it does not go far enough. Stortford Against Rhodes are therefore calling on the Rhodes Birthplace Trust to:
- Immediately remove the Rhodes name from any current and future branding of their venues and organisations.
- Set out a timeline for the removal of the Rhodes name and branding.
- Commit to a campaign of education on the crimes of Cecil Rhodes that includes the voices of people of colour.
Thirdly, I would like to outline the support we have received. The Herts and Stortford Constituency Labour Party have voiced their support, and we are reaching out to local councillors of all parties to do so too. We have received press coverage in the Bishop's Stortford Independent, and prominent community faith leaders have voiced their support. Julie Marson, our local MP for Hertford and Stortford has also given a supportive statement, and we will be in further contact with her.
So please keep sharing, signing and supporting, it has already made a significant impact, and hopefully, will soon make a significant change. We intend to keep up this campaign, and we are all committed to removing the stain of Cecil Rhodes' racist beliefs.
In Solidarity,
Lukas Ruediger
Stortford Against Rhodes
PS: If you live in Bishop's Stortford, watch out for the Bishop's Stortford Independent's front page tomorrow!