RACIST INCIDENT AT PENRYN LIBRARY
As a result of communications received by concerned individuals and indeed parents following on from comments of a racist nature aimed at the Cornish National Minority, the Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League wrote to Communities and Organisational Development at Cornwall Council with details of the matter and requesting a full inquiry be conducted. Our organisation’s stand on such incidents and comments is clear. No matter how minor, they should not and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The initial letter is below:
“AN KESUNYANS KELTEK - SCOREN GERNEWEK
The Cornish Branch of the Celtic League
(The Celtic League has Roster Consultative Status at the United Nations)
18th August, 2014
Dear Sirs and Mesdames
Penryn Library - alleged incident of discrimination against the Cornish National Minority
Our organisation has been made aware of an incident of alleged discriminatory comments made against the Cornish National Minority which occurred in Penryn Library during Monday 18th August, 2014 and we have the consent of those affected to write to you regarding this matter. We hold their names and addresses in confidence.
During the day in question, there was an event called 'Mark's Ark' - an activity aimed at young people, held at the library.
Whilst speaking to a group, the individual conducting this activity made several disparaging and unsolicited comments about the Cornish people, their language and culture.
Indeed, one attendant parent made this note of the words said by the individual:
"The Cornish wouldn't shake my hand. They are unfriendly. The Cornish language is rubbish and only spoken by druids. Its all just about attracting tourists."
Several others overheard this said.
Naturally, every sentence of the quote is wrong and can be easily disproved. Indeed, our organisation is in a position to provide facts and figures to this end.
Of course, you will be aware that on 24th April, 2014, the Government announced that Cornish people will be granted minority status under European rules, giving the same protection that other Celtic communities the Scots, Welsh and Irish enjoy.
Our organisation calls for an inquiry into this unfortunate matter and would welcome your response.
We reserve the right to place this matter in the public domain.
Yours faithfully
Convener
Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League”
The following reply has been received from an officer of Cornwall Council:
“26th August, 2014
Dear Convener,
Thank you for taking the time to contact Face to Face Service.
We apologise if offence was caused by some comments made during the Summer Reading Challenge event at Penryn Library on Monday 18th August.
We have discussed this issue with visiting children’s facilitator who was delivering the Marks Ark event on 18th August. The facilitator on the day believed that he was engaging in a one to one conversation when he gave his personal views on the Cornish language, and his experiences of moving to Cornwall, and it was certainly not his intention to cause any offence.
We are grateful for your feedback and as a result we have revised our code of conduct for external partners to ensure that a similar situation does not arise in the future.
I hope that I have answered your complaint satisfactorily but should you wish to take the complaint further please contact etc.
Yours sincerely,
Locality Team Leader
Face to Face Service
Communities and Organisational Development
Cornwall Council”
Having now been given to understand from witnesses to the comments that they were repeated in a loud voice by the contracted in individual with the apparent intention of causing insult, the Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League has again written to the Cornwall Council and to the Principal Officer of the Department in question as follows:
“AN KESUNYANS KELTEK - SCOREN GERNEWEK
The Cornish Branch of the Celtic League
(The Celtic League has Roster Consultative Status at the United Nations)
30th August, 2014
Dear
Thank you very much for your response to our communication of 18th August, 2014.
Our information received indicates that the offending remarks were made in the clear hearing of several parents and then repeated.
Whilst not wishing to cause undue nausea, we feel that the individual making the remarks should be warned regarding their unsuitability and issue an unreserved apology and assurance that such comments will not be repeated.
Many thanks for your kind attentions.
Yours sincerely
Convener
Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League”
[email protected]
As a result of communications received by concerned individuals and indeed parents following on from comments of a racist nature aimed at the Cornish National Minority, the Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League wrote to Communities and Organisational Development at Cornwall Council with details of the matter and requesting a full inquiry be conducted. Our organisation’s stand on such incidents and comments is clear. No matter how minor, they should not and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The initial letter is below:
“AN KESUNYANS KELTEK - SCOREN GERNEWEK
The Cornish Branch of the Celtic League
(The Celtic League has Roster Consultative Status at the United Nations)
18th August, 2014
Dear Sirs and Mesdames
Penryn Library - alleged incident of discrimination against the Cornish National Minority
Our organisation has been made aware of an incident of alleged discriminatory comments made against the Cornish National Minority which occurred in Penryn Library during Monday 18th August, 2014 and we have the consent of those affected to write to you regarding this matter. We hold their names and addresses in confidence.
During the day in question, there was an event called 'Mark's Ark' - an activity aimed at young people, held at the library.
Whilst speaking to a group, the individual conducting this activity made several disparaging and unsolicited comments about the Cornish people, their language and culture.
Indeed, one attendant parent made this note of the words said by the individual:
"The Cornish wouldn't shake my hand. They are unfriendly. The Cornish language is rubbish and only spoken by druids. Its all just about attracting tourists."
Several others overheard this said.
Naturally, every sentence of the quote is wrong and can be easily disproved. Indeed, our organisation is in a position to provide facts and figures to this end.
Of course, you will be aware that on 24th April, 2014, the Government announced that Cornish people will be granted minority status under European rules, giving the same protection that other Celtic communities the Scots, Welsh and Irish enjoy.
Our organisation calls for an inquiry into this unfortunate matter and would welcome your response.
We reserve the right to place this matter in the public domain.
Yours faithfully
Convener
Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League”
The following reply has been received from an officer of Cornwall Council:
“26th August, 2014
Dear Convener,
Thank you for taking the time to contact Face to Face Service.
We apologise if offence was caused by some comments made during the Summer Reading Challenge event at Penryn Library on Monday 18th August.
We have discussed this issue with visiting children’s facilitator who was delivering the Marks Ark event on 18th August. The facilitator on the day believed that he was engaging in a one to one conversation when he gave his personal views on the Cornish language, and his experiences of moving to Cornwall, and it was certainly not his intention to cause any offence.
We are grateful for your feedback and as a result we have revised our code of conduct for external partners to ensure that a similar situation does not arise in the future.
I hope that I have answered your complaint satisfactorily but should you wish to take the complaint further please contact etc.
Yours sincerely,
Locality Team Leader
Face to Face Service
Communities and Organisational Development
Cornwall Council”
Having now been given to understand from witnesses to the comments that they were repeated in a loud voice by the contracted in individual with the apparent intention of causing insult, the Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League has again written to the Cornwall Council and to the Principal Officer of the Department in question as follows:
“AN KESUNYANS KELTEK - SCOREN GERNEWEK
The Cornish Branch of the Celtic League
(The Celtic League has Roster Consultative Status at the United Nations)
30th August, 2014
Dear
Thank you very much for your response to our communication of 18th August, 2014.
Our information received indicates that the offending remarks were made in the clear hearing of several parents and then repeated.
Whilst not wishing to cause undue nausea, we feel that the individual making the remarks should be warned regarding their unsuitability and issue an unreserved apology and assurance that such comments will not be repeated.
Many thanks for your kind attentions.
Yours sincerely
Convener
Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League”
[email protected]