Scottish Parliament suspends UK rubber bullets, tear gas and riot shield exports to U.S.
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Topics: SCOTTISH U.S.
The motion, which was overwhelmingly backed by Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) – 52 votes to 0, with 11 abstentions – was proposed by the Green Party’s Patrick Harvie.
Addressing fellow MSPs on Thursday, Harvie said it was “important that we stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement,” in light of police brutality, calling for the UK government to halt “exports of tear gas, rubber bullets, and riot gear to the U.S.”
The hard line taken by Scottish politicians against the export of riot gear and tear gas to the U.S. comes despite UK police forces using similar riot control equipment.
The U.S. is one of the world’s biggest buyers of British arms. ■