Chair of the Black Awareness Group and former night club owner, Raymond Stevenson, has been given an Anti Social Behaviour Order by Southwark Council in response to an egg being thrown by one of his supporters at a council meeting. The Lib Dem group who hold the majority of seats in Southwark, have ignored their own party’s commitment to an anti-ASBO stance to silence one of their more vocal political opponents.
Raymond Stevenson has been an outspoken critic of Southwark’s council’s attitude toward black businesses in the area, which he claims amounts to "ethnic cleansing". A damning District Auditor’s report criticised the council for failing to notify black businesses of planning applications which, in Stevenson’s case, led to the loss of his night club in the area. Two planning officers have been suspended from their jobs pending an internal investigation 1. Stevenson’s campaign also resulted in an inquiry into racism in Southwark last year by Lord Ouseley, head of the Commission for Racial Eqaulity, who condemned Southwark Council and called on them to address the ‘victims’ of racism.
Jenny Jones, London Assembly Member, has commented, "This is a staggering breach of human rights. Southwark Council already have a very poor record with race relations and to gag a local man on the slightest pretext because he has the courage to speak against them is appalling. The Greens have consistently supported Raymond’s campaign over the last few years and we demand that these councillors who have deliberately ignored the CRE’s criticisms are held to account for their actions."