‘Knuckledragging racists’ try to use Croydon police tragedy to attack black MP
Dawn Butler: racists have used the tragic death of a police officer to attack this London MP, who also happens to be a black woman. They don’t care about the man who died – he was just a handy hook on which they could hang their bile.
This is a new depth of depravity.
After Brent MP Dawn Butler tweeted her condolences about the police officer who was shot dead at Croydon Custody Centre, the racists have turned out in their thousands to blame her for it.
Their reason is the fact that she complained about being in a car subjected to stop-and-search by (other) officers from the same force, for “driving around while black”.
These are completely separate incidents.
So Ms Butler’s highly-vocal critics are wrong to suggest that her tweet is hypocritical. Complaining about an incident of apparent racial profiling is not the same as wishing death upon any police officer.
Nor is her complaint about a stop-and-search procedure that had no justification any reason to suggest that she had somehow prevented police from finding the weapon that was used in the Croydon attack.
If you’re unaware of the facts of the case, here they are:
A long-serving police officer has been shot dead at Croydon Custody Centre in south London.
The male sergeant was shot in the chest before the suspect turned the firearm on himself, sources have told the BBC.
The man had been brought to the custody suite in a police vehicle and the shooting happened during questioning about Covid-19, the BBC was told.
It was believed the suspect – who is critically ill in hospital – was known to counter-terrorism police.
Ms Butler had clashed with other police officers in a very widely-reported incident which she recorded, using her mobile phone.
But it is insanity to suggest that she held the actions of those officers against the entire force – or that, even if she had, she would want any police officers to die. That is what has been implied today.
Ms Butler tweeted the following:
This is so shocking and very very sad news. My heartfelt condolences go out to the officer and their family and friends and to all the officers at the station who I hope are getting the support they need at this Traumatic time.
— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@DawnButlerBrent) September 25, 2020
As a London MP, it is entirely appropriate for her to have sent this message.
Brace yourself, because here come a few of the replies:
https://twitter.com/Imbolc22/status/1309508106376937474
https://twitter.com/LRBehind1/status/1309476306904645632
But you hate the Police Dawn
— Pupps (@lindsaypuppyd) September 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/lamps_manson/status/1309441781990404096
Hypocrite. For the last few weeks you’ve done nothing but criticising our British Police. pic.twitter.com/7Y2SZuqj3w
— Pop (@pop_hill) September 25, 2020
You are big part of the problem dawn don't pretend to feelings you don't have, we all saw you race baiting a few weeks ago.
— Julie Smith 🇬🇧🇮🇱 (@juliesmith472) September 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/Hitmanpowmia/status/1309445044613582851
For some reason I don't believe you! Can't think why!
— Jon Burrows🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 (@JonBurr79246797) September 25, 2020
You can't claim to like our Metropolitan police when 6 weeks ago you were lying about being racially profiled by them.
You didn't think twice about getting your mob of half wits online to accuse them of being racist bigots.
But don't worry Dawn Butler…I see you 🧐
— Esther K (@estherk_k) September 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/ldyblue4/status/1309517998319980545
https://twitter.com/willb_ldn/status/1309434219345711104
There have been many, many more.
Notice the number of flags in the profile pictures? What does that suggest to you? To me it suggests racism – English nationalism, “Britain for the British” and all the usual bilge.
Many of the attacks focused on the Chris Phillips quote about stop-and-search, so let’s put an answer to them straight away:
You are confusing Stop & Search, which is controversial (for good reason) with searching a detainee after they have been arrested & brought to a custody centre, which is standard & uncontroversial – but appears not to have been done on this occasion.
— Comrade Sarah Bluecat Agent 477 (@bluecatsarah) September 25, 2020
Notable among the critics was that humdrum right-wing rabble-rumbler Julia Hartley Doodah, who added this to the mix:
The replies to this… 😬 https://t.co/krZVJal7Lm
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) September 25, 2020
… and had her derriere minced into burger meat and handed back to her:
She's obviously dog whistling for more abuse to be aimed at Dawn Butler. Look at the replies to her tweet it's just more of the same.
— Paloma De Paz ♿ (@Pazatodos2017) September 25, 2020
Fortunately, it seems there are still more decent people in the UK than loudmouthed racist imbeciles. Let’s give reason some space now:
https://twitter.com/Curious_Chak/status/1309478201543008256
Racists using the murder of a policeman to attack Dawn Butler. Very respectful. Many flags.
— Dorian Lynskey (@Dorianlynskey) September 25, 2020
A police officer lost his life today, because an officer failed to do their job, and rather than expressing their condolences to the family all the racists choose to attack Dawn Butler
What a country Farage and Cummings have made.
— Helen the Zen 🏴 💙 🍉 (@helenmallam) September 25, 2020
Oh, and perhaps someone who has served as a police officer should have a say:
I’m an ex copper and I am sad about the death of this police officer. I also can recognise that the police are institutionally racist they are two different things, Dawn Butler is not being hypocritical
— DCH (@dczoro) September 25, 2020
No, she wasn’t. Her behaviour was entirely proper. Those who attacked her are the shame of the nation.
But I do think some politicians should take blame for what has happened here: Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage. David Cameron. Anybody who used the EU referendum campaign to stir up jingoistic, fake patriotism that was really racism in disguise. Priti Patel, for insisting on deporting refugees. Theresa May, for insisting on deporting UK citizens. Successive Tory governments that encouraged the claim that foreigners were coming to the UK and taking citizens’ jobs and/or claiming state benefits. The list goes on and on.
Racism is on the rise because right-wing politicians thought it would make them popular.
But who’s getting the blame for it in this story?
The black person.
And who’s being ignored in the rush to lay that blame?
The dead person.
What a hateful day.
Source: Police officer shot dead at Croydon Custody Centre – BBC News
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