Brussels square to be named in honour of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox
'What a lovely gesture. Jo loved living in Brussels, and back in the day we all loved going to the Ancienne Belgique – a fantastic live music venue,' Stephen Kinnock tweets
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A square in Brussels is to be named in honour of the murdered Labour MP Jo Cox next month, as part of a bid to "feminise" the city's streets.
The 41-year-old, who was killed by neo-Nazi terrorist Thomas Mair in 2016, is said to have frequented the Ancienne Belgique concert hall, which backs onto the square, when she worked in Belgium before being elected to Parliament in 2015.
Mohamed Ouriaghli, a Brussels MP, said the square would be named after her on 27 September.
He wrote on Twitter: "On 27.09 at 1pm, Helen Joanne Cox will have her name attributed to the place located at the back of the Ancienne Belgique, a place she frequented during her stay at #BXL. This event is in her honour and in the wish to feminise the squares and street names of the VilleBruxelles."
The announcement was welcomed by Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP for Aberavon, whose mother, the former MEP Glenys Kinnock, employed Ms Cox as an assistant in Brussels.
He tweeted: "What a lovely gesture. Jo loved living in Brussels, and back in the day we all loved going to the Ancienne Belgique – a fantastic live music venue. Kudos and 'un grand merci' to the City of Brussels, for doing this."
Ms Cox, who was killed in the run-up to the EU referendum, was included on a list of "illustrious women" who will have squares, streets and buildings named after them as part of the city's plans for female and male equality.
The Batley and Spen MP was murdered on 16 June, in Birstall, west Yorkshire, as she arrived to hold a constituency surgery.
As he struck, Thomas Mair shouted: “This is for Britain”, “keep Britain independent”, and “Britain first”.
On his arrest, Mair told police officers he was a "political activist". And when asked his name at his first appearance before magistrates in London, responded "death to traitors, freedom for Britain".
Mair, who has a history of mental illness but did not want it to form his defence, also stabbed 77-year-old Bernard Kenny in the stomach when the pensioner tried to protect Cox.
In November 2016 Mair was sentenced to life in prison.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments