Man Arrested for Seeming Racist

[GreatOak]

A man has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated offence following Chelsea's League Cup win over Manchester United.

Pictures taken during Wednesday's fourth-round tie at Stamford Bridge appeared to show a fan making a "monkey" gesture.

Gavin Kirkham, 28, was bailed after being questioned at a west London police station on Monday.

United striker Danny Welbeck appeared to be the target of the alleged abuse.

The Metropolitan Police said Mr Kirkham was arrested after attending the police station by appointment.

He was released on bail until later in November.

Does anyone support this? This is totally Orwellian and wrong. How could the police purposely arrest someone for expression his harmless, but stupid, opinion? How do they know whos feelings may or may not be hurt, and why do they think they have the right to lock an innocent man up just for being a jerk?



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20212989

[Rukentuts]

Britain doesn't have the First Amendment the USA does. It makes free expression a little bit more risky over there.

[Sunseeker]

Britain doesn't have the First Amendment the USA does. It makes free expression a little bit more risky over there.

True, but this all seems to be getting a little silly. I doubt the player even saw the man.

[Romeo83x]

Britain has different laws.

/thread

[Rukentuts]

True, but this all seems to be getting a little silly. I doubt the player even saw the man.

Oh, I agree it's silly. I'm just saying this is how police get away with it. Remember how people were arrested just for making Twitter/FB comments supporting the rioters a year ago?

[GreatOak]

Britain doesn't have the First Amendment the USA does. It makes free expression a little bit more risky over there.

The police should still have better common sense. I don't think the laws should matter when it comes to things like this.

[Daisyhead]

I find this pretty obscene. People have every right to be ignorant, and he wasn't hurting anyone with this rather ambiguous gesture. This isn't to say that I think it's right to be an idiot. Not at all. We're all entitled to our opinions in the "free" world, though. And to arrest him for some child-like behavior? Ridiculous.

[GreatOak]

Britain has different laws.

/thread

Laws don't necessarily reflect the will of the people an dont equate to morality

[Deleted]

Sorry Brits, but if this keeps up I'm not visiting London any time soon.

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

Sorry Brits, but if this keeps up I'm not visiting London any time soon.

I don't understand, you won't visit a country because you can't be a racist? Glad you're staying at home, Britain sure doesn't need more people like that.

Laws don't necessarily reflect the will of the people an dont equate to morality

Racism is a criminal offence in Britain, and quite a lot of the population are ok with that law.

[Deleted]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G_vlbJiGeE

Relevant

[Kraenen]

I don't understand, you won't visit a country because you can't be a racist? Glad you're staying at home, Britain sure doesn't need more people like that.



Racism is a criminal offence in Britain, and quite a lot of the population are ok with that law.

Doesn't make it right.

[Zoranon]

Well this is nothing new sadly, I am surprised that anyone is still unaware of this, there is simply no freedom of speech any more in Great Britain.

It has just went the way some other rights did in GB, once I thinked about moving there, now however...

[Deleted]

I don't understand, you won't visit a country because you can't be a racist? Glad you're staying at home, Britain sure doesn't need more people like that.

No, I wouldn't visit a country if it had legislation that could inhibit free expression as Section 5 does. The guy that was photographed making a monkey impression should've just been banned from the ground or something. No need for imprisonment or any punishment. I find it "offensive" and "insulting" that he was arrested for it.

Racism is a criminal offence in Britain, and quite a lot of the population are ok with that law.

Count me out. At least when it comes to general opinion and free speech.

[Valort]

They invented political correctness. Do you really expect them NOT to arrest someone who makes monkey gestures at a black man?

"United striker Danny Welbeck appeared to be the target of the alleged abuse."
Or, in other words:
"There is a black man on the football field, and that guy over there is making monkey gestures... 1 + 1 = Ding ding ding, the guy is being racist!"
At no point whatsoever did they actually stop to think THEY are the ones being racist for connecting a monkey gesture as an imitation of a black man.

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G_vlbJiGeE

Relevant

If they hadn't put needlessly aggravating music in the background I might have finished watching that clip. Is as bad as those Anonymous clips. If so many MPs back a reform to the Public Order Act, why don't they exercise their right to have it discussed in Parliament?

[Anjerith]

Laws don't necessarily reflect the will of the people an dont equate to morality

Except the police are in charge of upholding the law, so of course they have to follow through on upholding said law.

[hellosaltygoodness]

Britain has thought police now? Glad I don't live there.

[Arkhias]

I don't understand, you won't visit a country because you can't be a racist? Glad you're staying at home, Britain sure doesn't need more people like that.

I think most people (in the US, at least) view it as a slippery slope type situation.

[Deleted]

If they hadn't put needlessly aggravating music in the background I might have finished watching that clip. Is as bad as those Anonymous clips. If so many MPs back a reform to the Public Order Act, why don't they exercise their right to have it discussed in Parliament?

Just mute it if the music bothers you.

It is arguing for awareness about a law that is having people arrested for being considered 'offensive' or 'insulting'.