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25th June At a full meeting of Oxford City Council today, a majority of Councillors backed a Green motion requesting that the Town Hall again flies the Rainbow Flag during Oxford Pride and that this year it is flown in solidarity with those suffering human rights abuses worldwide. The motion was sparked by the recent disturbing events in Moscow where people involved in the Moscow Pride event were attacked. Those injured included Oxford Pride patron and Oxford East Green Parliamentary Candidate Peter Tatchell. The Greens accepted a friendly amendment from one Labour Councillor which broadened the scope of the original motion. Text of the original motion below: Oxford Pride (Proposer – Councillor Simmons) "This Council notes that:- (i) Pride Oxford 2007 - supported by the City Council - is happening on 14th July; (ii) This year the celebrations will take place not long after the violent attacks on participants at Moscow Pride - including an assault on one of the Oxford Pride patrons; (iii) The attacks in Moscow are widely viewed as illustrative of mounting concerns over the lack of respect for human rights within Russia. This Council therefore agrees to:- (1) Fly the Rainbow Flag from the Town Hall again this year in solidarity with those suffering human rights abuses in Russia; (2) Write to the Russian Embassy expressing its concern over the banning of Moscow Pride and the attacks and arrests which took place there; (3) Ask Oxford's MPs to press the Prime Minister to express his concern to the Russian Ambassador."
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