Bristol councillor faces grilling over 'coconut' slur
Liberal Democrat councillor Shirley Brown, who represents Ashley ward, provoked outrage after she called her Asian colleague, Conservative Jay Jethwa (Stockwood), a coconut during last month's debate on the council's budget for the next year.
The term is used by black or Asian people to describe someone who is seen to have "sold out" their own culture and looks 'brown on the outside but is white on the inside'.
Councillor Brown has apologised for the comment but complaints from the Conservative Party and several members of the public have prompted a standards committee hearing, due next month. The matter is also being investigated by the police.
Councillor Jethwa has tabled a series of questions for Councillor Janke, leader of the Lib Dem group, due to be heard at a meeting on Thursday night.
Questions include what action has been taken against Councillor Brown and whether her comments damaged community cohesion in Bristol.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Councillor Jethwa said: "I am both angry and saddened that no effective action has been taken by the Lib Dems to punish Councillor Brown's ridiculous and racist declarations.
"I am sure that if the positions had been reversed, or such statements had come from a non-BME (black and minority ethnic) councillor, many in the Lib Dem ranks would now be baying for blood. It is quite clear to me that the 'apology' extended to me from Councillor Brown was entirely disingenuous.
"Clearly Shirley still cannot see or accept the serious nature of her offence – something which has appalled people nationwide.
"Moreover, I believe for the Lib Dems to hide behind a wall of silence on this behaviour is to condone it.
"Councillor Janke has long been critical of former administrations over their lack of transparency and openness. Now is the time to put her previous commitment to these values to the test.
"I hope for candid answers to the questions I have raised but fear a concerted and collective attempt is being made at 'whitewashing' over this issue."
Councillor Brown made her outburst in the chamber at the Council House after Councillor Jethwa spoke in support of a Tory proposal to cease funding for the Legacy Commission, an organisation set up last year to support ethnic minorities in Bristol.
Mrs Brown – the authority's only black councillor – wasn't happy and made her views clear.
She said: "In our culture we have a word for you, a word which many in our city would understand, and that's coconut."
The Bristol Post approached the Lib Dems for a comment on Councillor Jethwa's demand but no one was available for interview and no statement was issued on the matter.
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