THE CARMARTHEN West and South Pembrokeshire Constituency Labour Party has released a statement drawing attention to what they call the ‘appalling abuse’ that Cllr Josh Beynon has suffered at the hands of ‘homophobic racists’ in the town he represents Pembroke Dock.
The statement explains that Cllr Beynon suggested to Pembrokeshire County Council to project a purple light onto Council Hall to demonstrate Pembrokeshire County Councils support for the Black Lives Matter Movement.
This prompted, say the party, a small number of vocal Facebook users to subject Josh to a torrent of vile abuse which has included racist and homophobic insults and threats.
The statement goes on to say: “It was obvious from the posts that Josh’s abusers were not really concerned about whatever he had or had not done but rather that Josh supported the Black
Lives Matter Movement.
“Several of the posts sent to Josh were so extreme that Dyfed Powys Police are now investigating them as Hate Crimes.
“The attacks on Josh were led by Pembrokeshire County Councillor Paul Dowson.
“Cllr Dowson made the statement that “White Lives Matter” and posted several other racist and homophobic posts on his Facebook page.
“Cllr Dowson has taken his Facebook Page down since several complaints were made about his behaviour to both the Public Services Ombudsman and Pembrokeshire County Council.
“The slogan “White Lives Matter” is, according to the Southern Poverty law Centre an explicitly racist statement which has been used by violent neo-Nazis and racists to counter the Black Lives Matter Movement.
“It is to be assumed that as Cllr Dowson is a politician he knew, or should have known, exactly what that inflammatory statement meant and the reaction it would provoke.
“The shifting nature of his arguments would seem to suggest that Cllr Dowson’s objection has always been to people expressing their support for Black Lives Matter and not whatever Cllr Joshua Beynon may or may not have done.
“Cllr Dowson’s supporters have taken it as a call to action. A call to action to which they responded by harassing and abusing Cllr Beynon.”
Speaking to The Pembrokeshire Herald on Tuesday by telephone Cllr Paul Dowson said: “I immediately took down any comments aimed at Cllr Beynon, and sent him a message saying that I don’t condone any of it, and he replied thank you.”
