Council leader accused of 'ridicule' in memorial row

A group looking to create a memorial to volunteers who fought against fascism in the Spanish Civil War has accused a council leader of "childish ridicule".

About 20 people from Roker, Millfield, Southwick and other parts of Sunderland are believed to have travelled to Spain to fight against the nationalists. Some were members of the Communist Party.

Chris Eynon, leader of the Reform-run local authority, said he had "no plans for statues of Marxist fighters" in response to a public question about the project at last week's council meeting.

Solidarity Sunderland said it was "dismayed" and accused him of "attempting to resort to political scaremongering rather than honouring local history".

The Spanish Civil War was fought between 1936 and 1939 between General Franco's nationalists and republicans.

According to the National Archives, about 4,000 people from Britain and Ireland are thought to have joined the war, including author George Orwell.

Work on a memorial for the Sunderland volunteers has been ongoing, with similar monuments already existing in Durham, Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Stockton.

During the meeting the leader was asked if Sunderland City Council would consider giving permission and a site for the artwork as no planning application has been made yet.

In response, Eynon said: "I am happy to explore any memorials on a personal basis of genuine armed forces who were actually recognised by the country, but currently I don't have any plans for statues of Marxist fighters.

"But, to save you public questions in future about that, I'm happy to extend that memo to statues commemorating the Red Army, the Viet Cong, the Weather Underground, or Jamie Driscoll."

Solidarity Sunderland said the project highlighted the "diverse efforts of Sunderland residents" in the 1930s, including South Shields-born activist Eileen O'Shaughnessy, who was Orwell's first wife.

"We have to ask the question: why does Councillor Eynon seek to ridicule the deep anti-fascist contribution of the working-class people of Sunderland?" project co-ordinator Rob MacDonald said.

"Why is he so opposed to the idea of creating a monument to those who saw the rise of fascism and the far right in the 1930s?"

Eynon said most of those who took part were members of the Communist Party, whose ideology was "responsible" for millions of deaths.

"We need to be careful to not venerate those who were involved in groups not of the official Armed Forces," he added in a statement.

"There was a propaganda officer who lived in Sunderland, which a blue plaque may be appropriate, but a memorial would be a different discussion."

Organisers said they would be looking to secure a permanent home for the monument on public land when the artwork is finished.

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