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Pardon Guy Fawkes

Pardon Guy Fawkes

Date: 2019-10-04

Organisers of the Durban Book Fair have written to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asking him to pardon Guy Fawkes.

Fawkes famously tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London in 1605 and was executed. On 5 November each year, his straw effigy is carried aloft and usually ends with a grisly fate.

In a letter to Downing Street, Kiru Naidoo the director of the First Sunday's book fair says that it has joined forces with the Brothers of Revolutionary Instigators Since-Passed (BORIS) appealing to pardon Fawkes once and for all.

"We recognise that Brother Fawkes's attempt at a violent overthrow of Westminster was misguided. (We urge you to keep a beady eye on sleeper cells currently in the ranks the Conservative Party. We stand at the ready to defend your honour and hairdresser.)," the tongue-in-cheek letter reads.

They add that with the passage of time, much water and fireworks has passed under Westminster Bridge. Invoking the interests of global peace, harmony and climate change the group urges Johnson "to pardon Brother Fawkes".

The petitioners are building straw effigies of Guy Fawkes and his family to sit in Mitchell Park until 5 November. The effigies will be unveiled at the Durban Book Fair on Sunday 6 October at 10.00. Members of the public are invited to add their names to the petition.

The clemency project has also applauded the work of teenage environmental activist, Greta Thunberg. "She is changing the global face of environmental activism and this is one of our contributions to that mission." The petitioners also urge people to stay away from fireworks and do everything possible to save the planet from the ravages of climate change.

It is expected that thousands more will petition for Fawkes's pardon on 11-13 October during Mitchell Park Trust's Green Diwali celebrations.

The Durban Book Fair faithful plan is to walk Fawkes and his family safely home on 5 November in anticipation of Johnson's pardon.