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A COUNCILOR OF BELFAST has said that the local authority should revoke the freedom of the city of Sir Van Morrison for his intervention by the coronavirus.
The musician received the honor in 2013 in recognition of his storied career.
He has called for an end to measures that “enslave” people in a new song calling for pandemic restrictions to be lifted.
Councilor Emmet McDonough-Brown said: “Van Morrison was freed from Belfast, the highest honor the city can bestow.
His most recent lyrics undermine the guidance in place to protect lives and are ignorant of established science as we deal with Covid-19.
“So I have asked the Belfast City Council to consider repealing it.”
He added: “I think we should withdraw the endorsement.
“You are still free to say what you want.”
Sir Van was raised in East Belfast and the inspiration for various songs came from local streets such as Cyprus Avenue and Hyndford Street.
The 75-year-old composer is releasing a trio of protest songs calling for an end to rules meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
His song No More Lockdown labels those who are “disturbing our peace” as “fascist thugs.”
Belfast faces new restrictions preventing residents from entering other people’s homes as the infection rate rises.
The Northern Ireland Health Minister has said the songs protesting Sir Van’s imprisonment are dangerous.
Robin Swann told the BBC: “I don’t know where he got his data from.
“I know where the emotions are in this, but I’ll say that kind of message is dangerous.
“Our message is about saving lives.
“If Van wanted to sing a song about saving lives, it would be more in line with where we find ourselves.”
The lyrics also include a reference to an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that scientists are “making up twisted facts.”
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He criticized celebrities “telling us what we are supposed to feel” and called for an end to the “status quo.”
In a statement, Sir Van said: “I am not telling people what to do or think, the Government is already doing a great job on this.
“It’s about freedom of choice, I think people should have the right to think for themselves.”
Councilor Jim Rodgers, a longtime Ulster Loyalist Belfast City Councilor, grew up half a mile from Sir Van’s home in East Belfast.
He said he would object to revoking the honor.
“It’s a cheap political stunt from Councilman McDonough-Brown.”
He said he understood that people were depressed and fed up with restrictions.
“I did not agree with what he (Sir Van) said but, nevertheless, he would not be willing to go down that path to support the removal of that freedom from the city.
“We all say and do things that, in hindsight, we regret.”
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