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Recent events have led many people, including certain Star-Wars actors with fame gone to their heads, to say there is no such thing as #racism toward white people.
You have no idea how infuriating it is to read by those of us who have experienced it.
Big thread time.
You have no idea how infuriating it is to read by those of us who have experienced it.
Big thread time.
Many years ago, I was heading home from Hyde Park. On the way I crossed the Israeli consulate where, not unusually, there was a group of people protesting.
I didn& #39;t say a word, but the look on my face was apparently enough. Before I knew it, my path is blocked by 3 people.
I didn& #39;t say a word, but the look on my face was apparently enough. Before I knew it, my path is blocked by 3 people.
1 very large white man, and 2 niqab-clad women on either side. Path is completely blocked.
"Why don& #39;t you support us?" The man barks at me.
Knowing the consequences of disclosing my nationality to someone like that, I replied "Because I& #39;m entitled to my own opinion".
"Why don& #39;t you support us?" The man barks at me.
Knowing the consequences of disclosing my nationality to someone like that, I replied "Because I& #39;m entitled to my own opinion".
The man starts screaming at me right there in the middle of the street. "No you& #39;re not! No you& #39;re not!" while the two women form a tight box around me.
Now here& #39;s the fun part: not 5 feet behind this man is a PC. Standing, watching. We lock eyes for a few seconds...
Now here& #39;s the fun part: not 5 feet behind this man is a PC. Standing, watching. We lock eyes for a few seconds...
And he turns around.
Yes, the PC doesn& #39;t want to see what& #39;s happening when a man is surrounded by 3 people boxing and screaming their lungs at him.
It& #39;s really tense 30 seconds in. The man is spitting at me as he screams. I sense violence is next. When suddenly I& #39;m pulled...
Yes, the PC doesn& #39;t want to see what& #39;s happening when a man is surrounded by 3 people boxing and screaming their lungs at him.
It& #39;s really tense 30 seconds in. The man is spitting at me as he screams. I sense violence is next. When suddenly I& #39;m pulled...
By my wife, who grabs me from behind, spins me sideways around one of the women and pulls me away from the scene (in the direction of the police man).
I once again stare into his face, shocked by what just happened, and he once again turns it away.
I went home.
I once again stare into his face, shocked by what just happened, and he once again turns it away.
I went home.
Story #2: Several years later I moved to Finchley, London. I& #39;m walking home one day when I ask my dear wife whether we should stop to buy something for the flat. A woman who& #39;s walking in front of us stops for something, and we carry on walking.
Until I hear mumbling.
Until I hear mumbling.
I don& #39;t pay attention at first, but the mumbling turns into shouting. I turn around and see that old, white woman who stopped. She& #39;s screaming at *me*!
"You fucking dog! I should kill you!"
I stand there in complete disbelief. What the HELL did I do to warrant this?
"You fucking dog! I should kill you!"
I stand there in complete disbelief. What the HELL did I do to warrant this?
The woman keeps screaming. She walks off the pedestrian path and into the busy main road.
"Look what you& #39;re making me do! I& #39;m walking on the road!"
I honestly can& #39;t even bring myself to say anything. The experience is so surreal that I freeze. My wife shouts back.
"Look what you& #39;re making me do! I& #39;m walking on the road!"
I honestly can& #39;t even bring myself to say anything. The experience is so surreal that I freeze. My wife shouts back.
"What& #39;s your problem?" she shouts as the woman marches past moving cars.
"It& #39;s not you, it& #39;s that 2-legged dog you& #39;re with!" is her reply. For reference, my wife is white-British whereas I& #39;m white-other on most government forms.
I remember standing there, stupified, as she goes
"It& #39;s not you, it& #39;s that 2-legged dog you& #39;re with!" is her reply. For reference, my wife is white-British whereas I& #39;m white-other on most government forms.
I remember standing there, stupified, as she goes
It takes hours, but the event sinks in at home and I report it to the police. They& #39;re kind enough, open a case file for me.
A month later I receive a call: the police couldn& #39;t find or identify her (on a high street full of CCTV? OK) and are dropping it. Fine, it& #39;s been a month.
A month later I receive a call: the police couldn& #39;t find or identify her (on a high street full of CCTV? OK) and are dropping it. Fine, it& #39;s been a month.
The freaking next day, I turn into the SAME high street when suddenly I hear "Oh, it& #39;s you!"
You guessed it, it& #39;s my #1 fan. Before I even get the chance to reply, she goes off AGAIN!
This time I gather myself and look around. Wouldn& #39;t you know there& #39;s a PARKED POLICE CAR!
You guessed it, it& #39;s my #1 fan. Before I even get the chance to reply, she goes off AGAIN!
This time I gather myself and look around. Wouldn& #39;t you know there& #39;s a PARKED POLICE CAR!
I sprint to the car and 2 PCs are inside. She realises what I& #39;m doing and begins to slowly *walk* away.
I explain the situation, point to her and say that this is the second time she& #39;s verbally abused me at random. The PC stares at me and smiles.
I explain the situation, point to her and say that this is the second time she& #39;s verbally abused me at random. The PC stares at me and smiles.
It isn& #39;t an understanding smile, or an "I& #39;ll help you" smile. It& #39;s a condescending smile, like "How can you, a white man, be offended by this little old lady?"
She& #39;s STILL WALKING AWAY, and despite my begging, they won& #39;t even go speak to her.
Then I remembered something...
She& #39;s STILL WALKING AWAY, and despite my begging, they won& #39;t even go speak to her.
Then I remembered something...
I kept the police report in my work bag! It& #39;s only when I showed it that one of the PCs acted like they were doing me a favour by WALKING after her. By now she& #39;s out of visual range.
I wait 40+ minutes before the other one tells me they& #39;ve arrested her and I can go home.
I wait 40+ minutes before the other one tells me they& #39;ve arrested her and I can go home.
The experience was so humiliating, and even then they only moved because I happened to have the original report.
The next day I receive a phone call. Apparently, she wasn& #39;t cussing the life out of me - she& #39;s a devout Hare Krishna and was merely chanting. Prove otherwise.
The next day I receive a phone call. Apparently, she wasn& #39;t cussing the life out of me - she& #39;s a devout Hare Krishna and was merely chanting. Prove otherwise.
She was let go, and I spent months on edge every time I went to and from work. Apparently my wife is not a credible witness, and as always, they couldn& #39;t be bothered to ask the nearby Tesco with a camera pointing right at us for the footage.
So let& #39;s wrap this thread up. What have we learned?
1. White people ARE victims of racism
2. We are also victims of INSTITUTIONAL racism (looking at you, @metpoliceuk)
3. When you say white people CAN& #39;T be victims of racism, it results in us being ignored when in trouble
1. White people ARE victims of racism
2. We are also victims of INSTITUTIONAL racism (looking at you, @metpoliceuk)
3. When you say white people CAN& #39;T be victims of racism, it results in us being ignored when in trouble
4. Racism can come from anyone: white, black, Muslim, Jew... I& #39;m sure some pigeons don& #39;t like me either.
What happened to #GeorgeFloyd was horrifying. But if you claim the only racism is white-on-black, then you& #39;re part of the problem and are a racist yourself.
Fin.
What happened to #GeorgeFloyd was horrifying. But if you claim the only racism is white-on-black, then you& #39;re part of the problem and are a racist yourself.
Fin.