Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, convened an urgent meeting with members of the local LGBTQ+ community on Tuesday (23rd July)
Following the appalling vandalism which saw the Forest Gate Pride Flags defaced for a third time last week, Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, convened an urgent meeting with members of the local LGBTQ+ community on Tuesday (23rd July) so that they could be provided an update from Council officers about potential plans following damage to the flags; alongside an update from the Met Police on the investigation underway to find and apprehend the suspect.
The meeting provided the LGBTQ+ community an opportunity to discuss issues raised by the vandalism and possible ways forward. On behalf of the Council, Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz reaffirmed her commitment in supporting a positive and inclusive collective community mobilisation in response to the recent incidents including working with the LGBTQ+ community in their efforts to raise awareness and deepen understanding across Newham’s diverse communities.
Council officers said work to assess the damage is underway. Temporary barriers erected by the Council around the flags to protect them following Monday night’s community vigil will be removed at the request of the community.
The meeting also heard from the Police that inquiries into the hate crime are on-going and reiterated a community appeal for anyone with any information to come forward via 101 or on the Met Police website, quoting reference 1117/19JUL24, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.
Mayor Fiaz said: “It is very vitally important for us as a Council to bring the LGBTQ+ community, and residents representatives from Forest Gate into our discussions. These flags were created by and for the community with the support of this Council and everyone at that meeting was in total solidarity that hate crime will not be tolerated. As an expression of defiance the Council has raised Progress Pride flags at both Stratford and East Ham Town Halls while we consider options for either re-painting, replacing or finding an alternative way of demonstrating our support for our LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ community will be at the heart of these discussions. Newham is a borough of inclusion and equality – we will not bow to hatred and bigotry.”
