Forced tears as Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone ‘cries’ during slavery memorial

As the British Bicentenary jamboree continued to gather momentum, 23 August marked the UNESCO's day for the International Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its abolition. The British government has now formally adopted the date as the annual national commemoration of the abolition of slavery.

During the Mayor of London’s commemorative event at City Hall this month, Ken Livingstone delivered a speech during which he apologised on behalf of London for the city’s role in the enslavement of African people. He then went on to cry as he talked about the atrocities that were committed by the British. He said; "As mayor I offer an apology on behalf of London and its institutions for their role in the transatlantic slave trade. Some say that recognising such a crime is a form of - and I quote - 'national self hate'. But the late Senator Bobby Kennedy often quoted the French writer Albert Camus who wrote: 'I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice'.”

He continued; "It was the racial murder of not just those who were transported but generations of enslaved African men, women and children. To justify this murder and torture black people had to be declared inferior or not human. We live with the consequences today." Livingstone’s over acted grief appeared so overwhelming for him that he had to be comforted by former civil rights activist, Jesse Jackson.

Whilst some felt moved by Livingstone’s performance, others denounced his actions as insincere and insulting. Telegraph journalist, Jenny McCartney wrote; “It is worth remembering that Livingstone's weeping for slavery has come just as he is engaged in a very vigorous bout of moral judo regarding the London mayoral contest...”. Not alone in her view, an online poster on the Ligali forums articulated the views of a number of people in the community when he said; “I initially thought this was likely to be a "photoshopped" picture by some party attempting to smear Ken Livingstone by showing him performing an act of dire hypocrisy . I actually had to Google the event to confirm the truth of the ugly episode.

If there is contempt worse than that of Blair, this is it. Not only does Livingstone lack even a smidgen of remorse for the brutal torture of Africans, he holds us in such contempt that he believes enslaved African minds will warm to his mercenary tears and support his mayoral campaign.”

Livingstone’s on-going campaign to court the ‘ethnic vote’ did not begin or end on the 23 August. He has recently been embarking on a charm offensive with the Polish community holding events at City Hall for the community and their media complete with ‘authentic’ Polish catering.