George Floyd: SNP MSP calls for Glasgow to have street renamed after young black man

Many street names in Glasgow, and across Scotland, are connected with the slave trade

SNP MSP calls for Glasgow to have street renamed after young black man

Glasgow could have a street named after George Floyd, a politician suggested.

Scottish Government trade minister Ivan McKee called for the city to rename a street after George Floyd, the young black man who was killed by police in Minnesota with an officer kneeling on his neck for almost nine minutes.

The SNP MSP for Provan, pointed out that many street names in Glasgow had a connection to the slave trade, and suggested some could be renamed.

Mr McKee said: "A George Floyd Street is a good way to start.

"Also we can do more to recognise people who have done work to address inequalities in Scotland.

"It is about recognition not blame but we could take away the names of individuals who have benefited from it.

"It could be we change some of the street names, we could keep some like Virginia Street, Jamaica Street to remember where slaves were taken to."

The government minister said Glasgow has previously changed street names to highlight an issue.

He said: "Nelson Mandela Place was renamed in the 1980s. It got people talking about South Africa and apartheid."

The Black Lives Matter protests are taking place across Scotland, with many taking a knee in memory of George Floyd on Wednesday evening, and an Edinburgh protest set to take place on Sunday.

Additional reporting from SWNS

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