Jamaica's Governor-General suspends use of royal insignia over 'offending image'
Governor-General Patrick L. Allen, the British monarchy's representative in Jamaica, made the announcement on Friday, June 26, 2020.
Allen said he is suspending the personal use of the insignia of the Order of St Michael and St George because of its offensive implications, according to a statement on the governor-general's website.
The insignia has the illustration of St Michael and Satan on one of its sides, according to the British royal family's website.
According to CNN today, June 28, 2020, the image posted to the governor-general's website and highlighted by Allen shows Satan as a dark-skinned man under the foot of a White archangel and has recently caused anger in Jamaica.
Image should reflect ‘shared humanity of all peoples’
In his statement, Allen said the suspension follows his acknowledgment of concerns raised by "citizens over the image on the medal, and the growing global rejection of the use of objects that normalise the continued degradation of people of colour."
Allen, according to CNN, sent a letter to the Chancellor of the Order of St Michael and St George requesting a revision of the image, recommending that it be "changed to reflect an inclusive image of the shared humanity of all peoples," the statement says.
CNN said it has reached out to the palace press office for comment, but has not yet received a response.
The Order of St Michael and St George is traditionally awarded to ambassadors and diplomats and senior Foreign Office officials who have served abroad. It has three ranks, the highest of which is Knight Grand Cross (GCMG), followed by Knight Commander (KCMG) and Companion (CMG).
Petition for image redesign gets over 13,000 signatures
Meanwhile, a petition in the United Kingdom (UK) calling for the medal to be redesigned had attracted 13,054 of the 15,000 signatures being asked for on change.org as of 12:00pm on June 28, 2020.
According to the creator of the petition, Tracy Reeve, “This is a highly offensive image, it is also reminiscent of the recent murder of George Floyd by the white policeman in the same manner presented here in this medal. We the undersigned are calling for this medal to completely redesigned in a more appropriate way and for an official apology to be given for the offence it has given.”
Many prominent UK citizens have supported the call.
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22 Responses to “Jamaica's Governor-General suspends use of royal insignia over 'offending image'”
@ SMH and Saddened. Oh really? Why is it that anything you all say is bad is painted Black, when we all know the biggest devils on earth are White. Put a White devil under his foot and it would seem non-racial, but you all don't want us to see it for what it is which IS RACISM! You have gotten away so many years just treating Black people like cow manure, that you got the nerve to get angry now that we won't take it anymore. Make your devil your own color and deal with all of your own SINS that you have created and leave Black people ALONE!
Where did I state that I thought is was ok?