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Calls to rename Sir John Hawkins car park in Chatham over links to slave trade

By: Sean McPolin smcpolin@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 11:57, 10 June 2020

Updated: 09:26, 12 June 2020

Calls have been made to rename a car park to remove its links to the slave trade.

Medway's Labour group made the decision after "many residents" contacted them about the Sir John Hawkins car park, in Waterfront Way, Chatham.

The John Hawkins car park in Chatham. Picture: Google Maps

It is named after Sir John Hawkins, a naval commander, who was also involved in the trading of slaves in the 16th century.

One Twitter user reacted, saying: "Hopefully the Medway Tories group, the Independent Conservative group and the other independents will support this motion.

"We shouldn't have anything named after a slave trader, hopefully the rest of the council can see this."

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It comes after a statue of Edward Colston was torn down and dumped in a river in Bristol during a Black Lives Matter protest at the weekend.

The action has led to a review among schools, councils and other places in the UK about the naming of statues, schools and streets after slave traders.

Medway Council leader Alan Jarrett (Con) said as Labour are raising the issue at the next council meeting he will reserve comment until then.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway

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