A public speaking appearance at Mearns Castle High School for a pro-independence activist who in a recent Twitter post commented that British soldiers in Northern Ireland ‘are now legitimate targets’ has been cancelled after Jackson Carlaw MSP and Newton Mearns South Councillor Jim Swift raised serious concerns about the event taking place.
In a previous online blog post, the same individual made reference to the poppy as a ‘bloodied weed’.
The individual concerned, Jason Michael McCann had recently caused a stir after the Scottish Government Minister for Children and Young People, Maree Todd MSP apologised for promoting an event on social media where he was due to appear in Alness after she was made aware of the extreme views he had expressed. The Children’s Minister later described Mr McCann’s comments as ‘abhorrent’.
Mr Carlaw wrote to the Chief Executive of East Renfrewshire Council calling on the local authority to cancel the event because of the distasteful comments made by Mr McCann. Newton Mearns South and Eaglesham Councillor, Jim Swift also made direct representation to the council.
The event promoted by the ‘Yes Eastwood’ campaign group was scheduled to take place at Mearns Castle High School between 7.30pm and 9.30pm on Wednesday 6th March.
The booking was rescinded within 24 hours of Mr Carlaw and Councillor Swift contacting the council.
Eastwood MSP Jackson Carlaw said:
“The description of British soldiers in Northern Ireland as ‘legitimate targets’ appears to incite violence towards UK Army Personnel and the individual concerned has also reportedly characterized the poppy as a ‘bloodied weed’.
“Giving an individual who has made distasteful comments on these lines a public speaking platform within a council owned building let alone a school would have been hugely inappropriate.
“East Renfrewshire Council has dealt with the matter urgently and efficiently.”
Newton Mearns South and Eaglesham Councillor Jim Swift added:
“Once I was made aware of this event at Mearns Castle High School in my ward, I immediately contacted the Chief Executive of the Leisure Trust and the Chief Executive of the Council to request that it be cancelled.
“I believe in freedom of speech and that people with broadly offensive views should be allowed to air them. However, this is someone who has condoned sectarian violence, which arguably goes beyond the offensive and might be interpreted by some as support for terrorism. Council properties should not be used to facilitate public speaking appearances for individuals who have espoused inflammatory views of this nature.
“Cancelling the event is the right decision.”
