Are racial hate speech laws being ‘weaponised’ against ethnic minorities?

Laws designed to crack down on racial hate speech are being weaponised against ethnic minorities, according to the National Black Police Association.
(Subscribe: bit.ly/C4_News_Subscribe)
Speaking exclusively to this programme, they've called for policing to stay impartial and not get 'caught up in culture wars'.
Symeon Brown has been talking to people of colour who've been subjected to police investigations over race-related language, including the former teacher who went viral last year with a placard depicting Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman as coconuts.
Warning, this report contains images and language that some viewers may find offensive.
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[@SpitfireMLG]

Brown people realising the law applies equally to them: 😮

[@rahuldahoob]

😅

[@RankinMsP]

Spitfire being racist and Rahul joining in.. LCD

[@SpitfireMLG]

@@RankinMsPit’s racist for the laws to be applied equally. You probably have the opinion of “hate speech isn’t free speech” yet here you are

[@Symptomless_Coma_]

@@RankinMsP Ah, the R word that lets you get what you want. hahaha

[@NirthUK]

Watch the video properly, they don't the Tory donor is not being investigated for hate speech, even though his speak was far more inflammatory and hateful. Don't worry these Tories will still manipulate you anyway, steal more public money for themselves and their donors, whilst allowing your public services to rot. Don't worry @SpitfireMLG, you can always blame foreigners and immigrants for your problems, it will make you feel better, whilst you're waiting 2 years for treatment, because public health in this country has gone down a colossal toilet.

[@stevenicol1]

Calling people coconuts isn't racist because she says so, who can argue with that logic.

[@andersschmich8600]

Weaponized=applied consistently?

[@JPnielsen]

Leftists - There is no "cancel culture", it's a consequence culture. Also Leftists - Woah, woah. When we said we wanted consequences, we didn't mean for us too.

[@blacksquare3765]

It almost like hate speech laws never made any sense and are highly subjective. Hate speech laws need to be removed and free speech need to be reinforce with it own law

[@WelshWoman23]

grooming gangs have been mainly of Pakistani decent though. facts are not racism!

[@mirror8519]

To them truth is relative, if truth hurts non whites, then it is racist and hurtful and criminal in nature.

[@sylezjusz]

Applying the law to racist 👱‍♂ - justice ✅ Applying the law to racist 🙎🏾‍♂ - weaponisation ❌

[@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp]

They don't like having their own weapon used against them

[@notorio526]

Your attempt to play the victim is noted ✅

[@Manysuchsneed]

@@notorio526 i mean the whole point of these laws were for people to play the victim

[@ablackgoliath1827]

The W/racists and their assimilationist allies of colour will always try to blur the boundaries between the very mention of 'race' and that which is obviously 'racist'. Its as if any mention of 'race' can be distorted/weaponised so that they can deny W/supremacy existence whilst consistently and proactively still acting it out.

[@Competitive_Antagonist]

Its not even the law. They get listed as non-crime indcidents. Both are unjust. Police care more about what people say online than actual crime.

[@rossco6651]

This is the left eating the left.

[@MyThingsRedux]

Absolutely staggering that they could put this out… my god. They have no limits.

[@natpalazzo8833]

What goes around, comes around. Looks like these people who are now targeted for hate speech were the same folks who were all for these laws.

[@latteoatmeal7807]

never seemed to occur to them that they'd be getting done too. it's all so hilarious.

[@SpitfireMLG]

@@latteoatmeal7807 to be fair I didn’t see it too. I honestly thought this would be just another anti-white law…

[@malijaqueline7625]

Be careful what you wish for. "What goes around comes around" will be a lot worse in the future for the people who did the worst harm to others for centuries. And it wasn't black/brown people.

[@N3wW0rld]

1. The laws should apply equally to everyone: that's equality. If it didn't it would be institutionally racist. 2. Nanny state UK is ridiculous in that the bar for criminal investigation and/or prosecution is whether the "victim" *felt* offended. Instead of the onus being on the citizenry to be mature and develop the emotional capacity to deal with criticism and free-speech, the state enforces protection for people's feelings being hurt by others' opinion of them. What a joke!

[@hourbee5535]

So now you are against this 😂

[@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp]

It's so funny to see it all catching up with them

[@MichaelJ44]

White People being arrested for owning “offensive” toys in shops, but THIS is where they draw the line 😂

[@Tom-nv9lv]

@@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp woosh

[@keigreencap9192]

They way its reported its more of a protection for politicians. Clearly they are struggling to control the message

[@RealUlrichLeland]

The law should apply equally to everyone. I don't think it makes sense to talk about hate speech laws bring "weaponised" against minorities when they work the same for everyone. If the laws seem unenforceable or are acting as a barrier to free speech then perhaps we'll have to settle with relaxing them.

[@1066keefurban]

British law isn't equal especially when the judicial system is blatantly biased.

[@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp]

If it was applied equally these people would have a meltdown

[@ablackgoliath1827]

@@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp Who is 'These people'?

[@stephenmurray2851]

​@@1066keefurbanBiased against white people you mean. We don't have a race card to play

[@RealUlrichLeland]

​​@@1066keefurban The people in this video weren't complaining about the judicial system being biased, just that laws intended to protect minorities were also being used against them. They weren't claiming that a white person could get away with calling someone a coconut, if anything they would be treated more harshly for making a comment like that. The problem they have with the laws around hate crimes is ultimately that they are too broad. If that woman wants to be able to call people a coconut then she has to accept that everyone should be able to say it, which would mean relaxing the laws more generally.

[@Jay-nr6mr]

Channel 4 at it again 😅. They love to push this victim mentality and push division.

[@chriser555]

Nobody saw this coming. Nobody.

[@latteoatmeal7807]

hahaha

[@MichaelJ44]

The Prophetic conspiracy theorists did. About 50 years ago

[@strangelee4400]

You think you hate the media...but you don't hate them enough.

[@MichaelJ44]

I just watched a video of a White army veteran being arrested for Hate Speech… one that would make the Gestapo envious. Would State-Media channel 4 cover this?

[@jmudikun]

Sending the police to investigate a dancing daffy duck 😀

[@SONofTHC]

If your going to delete peoples comments why even have the comment section turned on?!?!

[@aliceglado]

Cry more.

[@arcan762]

they get auto deleted by YT if the system thinks you are just shitposting

[@jimihayes150]

Switch to newest comments instead of top, you get to see *some* of the hidden comments

[@jimihayes150]

​@@aliceglado like censorship and authoritarianism eh? Bootlicker

[@tylerr-zj8ou]

​​@aliceglado, you're the only one crying

[@Manysuchsneed]

damn so i guess hate speech laws are only bad if they affect people who arnt white🤣

[@StratsRUs]

Anonymity

[@latteoatmeal7807]

of course that's how they see it, i mean, was that ever in doubt

[@IamButTheConduit]

Ethnic minorities are free to go and live in a country where their ethnicity is not a minority..

[@keigreencap9192]

Hope this doesn't come back to bite you one day. You clearly don't have much education or understand the development of human race

[@willchurch3743]

As an American I'm so confused by the application of this law. Isn't this a violation of freedom of speech? I'm also a gay man but that doesn't mean I think people who say homophobic things or make homophobic protest signs should face legal sanctions, fines, or imprisonment. Am I misinterpreting this law? It seems like a violation of the freedom of speech and the freedom of protest.

[@alexanderangelo7284]

So it's somewhat complicated, but in short, the American concept of free speech as articulated under the 1A is nearly unique compared to most of the world. In the UK, freedom of speech doesn't apply to hate speech. Hate speech laws are enforced, with ever more frequent controversy.

[@N3wW0rld]

In the UK the law is that if someone feels offended by something you say then it is against the law. It's really ridiculous because offensiveness is so subjective, and a person's feelings can be (in fact often are) irrational. We don't have as much free speech as you do in the US.

[@latteoatmeal7807]

we're so way past that now, FoS laws have basically been ended. Started in the 2000s, Blair knew he was going to loose a load of M in the 2005 election bc of the Iraq war, M's were demanding hate speech laws cause they couldn't work out that it was going to be them being prosecuted by them (so many cases, J's say 'your speech makes me unsafe', that's it, they're sacked/fined/jailed. bit like with your campus business now). B's have also been demanding everything & everyone gets done for racism is b's say it's racism, now also, constantly being prosecuted due to their own neurotic, hair trigger basis to hate crime law 'if a minority says you've done a racism, then you have'. Well, again, it's they that are being prosecutued. Whole thing's been an idiotic joke from the get go, there's never not been a sensible prosecution. it's always been all the take, grevience fuelled haters using these laws. it's just htat the minorities are still struggling with concept of equality before the law, doesn't ever seem to occur to them.

[@latteoatmeal7807]

@@alexanderangelo7284 wrong. up until the 2005 election, when Blair gave M's hate crime law cause he knew he was going to loose a load of M seats, we also freedom of speech. M's wanted them, Blair gave it, he still lost all the seats to the Lib Dems, we got to the keep the laws, the M's were the ones being prosecuted every time they were critising Israel.

[@youknow6968]

These laws tend to arise from local experiences, they're a reaction to domestic actions. For example, when ethnic immigrants initially arrived in the country, landlords would put up signs no blacks, Irish and dogs allowed. There are other examples.. Black used to refer to all non whites. So laws were introduced in reaction to certain realities.

[@squid4104]

Storm in a teacup...this "race" grift is becoming insufferable and I say this as a brown person...

[@StratsRUs]

Anonymity

[@CC-hx5fz]

Same with any of the identity grifts

[@Amanojaku8]

"As a brown person", sure Jan.

[@person849]

the president of the national black police association is brown not black LOL

[@donaldderrick1595]

its fucking rich isnt it?

[@keifer7813]

I hate how people regurgitate words they hear on social media until its no longer trending. Some words I've started to hate: - Weaponise - Normalise - Toxic - Narcissist - Woke (bothers me more when the right wing use it)

[@ArthurEmbleton]

They might just be avid Guardian readers.

[@asoulalignedhowgodhealshis6682]

lol, and then fox news uses as many as they can in a sentence

[@MichaelJ44]

“A Damning Report” really grinds my gears

[@rescyn1190]

What do you suggest people use instead of Woke? It's useful shorthand for something people kind of understand but know what they are trying to articulate. Say 'Critical Social Justice' and you lose the entire room instantly.

[@keifer7813]

@@rescyn1190 Not saying the words are bad themselves. They just get overused and misused so much to the point I start to hate hearing them

[@roc7880]

offensive is not and should not be criminalised. it is part of our way to grow up and mature.

[@KeithRingo]

"Count Dankula has entered the chat" 😂

[@baldbuthairy4079]

Oh dear. Seems like the kind of lady who was more than happy to see people she didn't like losing their jobs or getting prosecuted for hate speech. Probably considered people free speech "extremists" for pointing out that the definition of hate speech is vague and could be used to silence dissent. *in best Hives voice* HATE TO SAY I TOLD YOU SOOOOOOOO. Deal with it.

[@georgedavid1373]

This was entirely predictable and predicted in fact. Chickens coming home to roost my mother used to say.

[@d-logan5280]

B-b-but these laws were only supposed to be used against white pee-po???? It was supposed to be rules for thee but not for me!

[@davidlamb7524]

It was true about the grooming gangs. The abusers were mainly Pakistani origin. How can she be upset by anyone saying so ?

[@RobertTaylor-gz2fu]

I guess she wants it kept quiet.

[@1inchPunchBowl]

"The grooming gangs" What all of them? Go on claim there are, then tell me that's not racially profiling a criminal group.

[@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp]

They don't even prosecute them as the racist crimes that they are

[@mrr4975]

@@RobertTaylor-gz2fustop making stupid comments

[@PrivateWalker]

​@@RobertTaylor-gz2fu They wish it to continue in silence

[@receipt022]

There were no complaints by mainstream media and ‘ethnic minorities’ as long as the law was anti-white (:

[@keigreencap9192]

Not sure you watched the whole clip. The coconut poster was actually quite funny the way she described it. I personally don't understand how its seen as racist and probably too slow to understand. Thankfully she explained it. They both seemed to get in trouble for using terms typically used by white racists and against politicians. I guess don't attack one online...without a vpn at least

[@englishbob9492]

Anglophobic

[@deanostanley8530]

Its never ending denial

[@example306]

Yeah, as an MP I'm not convinced anyone has accused Shaun Bailey of being too black.

[@Thrill_Hou]

I’m just imagining him walking into Tory HQ on some “wagarn, Tarquin?! 👊🏿 What we saying, blad?!” 😂😂😂

[@redalert2834]

Weaponization is an American word. Stop trying to imitate that failing nation.

[@Kohanman]

wow, a word from another country making its way into the English language...that must be a first🤦

[@onlineonlineaccount2368]

@redalert2834...Then stop using their words like ''woke and culture wars'' in the UK aswell. British people have no backbone always imittating Americans in everything. Without even knowing what these words even mean. British people willingly want to Americanize their own society then the American distorted and toxic narratives about discimination and racism will be part of British society. You get what you ask for when you operate as a lapdog 🐕‍🦺 of Washington DC 🇺🇸

[@notorio526]

It's Brexit Britain that's a failure 🤡

[@alexanderangelo7284]

The word WOKE is from America, but you guys adopted that. How about nearly ALL the music you have today. That is all American. We have our problems, but I would not say we are failing. The UK on the other hand....

[@ablackgoliath1827]

@@alexanderangelo7284 The term 'Woke' has been distorted from its original US Black meaning by US alt right types. US Conservative talking heads brought the distorted meaning to the mainstream where UK Conservative Politicians and UK Talking heads adopted it for their 'Culture Wars' aka the re-assertion of White Supremacy.

[@LuRoyJenkins]

The law being applied equally to everyone? RAAAAAAAAAACISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@benpeters-brown5317]

It seems as soon as the laws they hoped would target natives, is applied to non natives. Suddenly its in issue

[@kahmaal14]

So glad the founders of america created the first amendment. Dont have to worry about garbage like this.

[@asoulalignedhowgodhealshis6682]

lol. You are being sarcastic right? The antisemitism act went into effect on May 1, and is essentially defined as anyone who voices disagreement with the behaviors of zionists, not an "ethnic" group, but a political group claiming to be religious. Guess who defines the terms of antisemitism? They do....

[@janaheelan]

The House just passed an anti blasphemy law so might want to start worrying

[@asoulalignedhowgodhealshis6682]

@@janaheelan I looked this up but didn't find anything. Can you elaborate on what the law is exactly? Are you referring to the antisemitism act on May 1?

[@kahmaal14]

@@janaheelan sounds unconstitutional, so as long as our judicial system doesn't fail us like the other 2 branches, we'll be alright. God Bless America for the last failsafe.

[@janaheelan]

@asoulalignedhowgodhealshis6682 yes the so called "anti semitism" bill

[@jmudikun]

Bottom of a coconut tree is offensive? 😂

[@Freedomforeverall]

They’re trying to get rid of freedom of speech

[@ArthurEmbleton]

Whether something is offensive or not is down to the individual victim.

[@asoulalignedhowgodhealshis6682]

@@ArthurEmbleton Not everyone who is offended is a victim

[@MichaelJ44]

@@ArthurEmbleton I’m offended by your comment

[@carlkamuti]

Equal rights doesn't mean preferential rights: if you say something someone finds offensive then you are dealt with irrespective of race, gender, etc. Personally I think we should all grow thicker skin but we are where we are.

[@DavidZ4-gg3dm]

Do China, Mexico, Nigeria etc. have such laws?

[@Bryce_Fl]

Yes, go to China or Mexico or Nigeria and say something the state hasn't approved, watch what happens to you.

[@Sammy-xf7ii]

This is about socioeconomic class, not about race. Clearly the police aren’t using this law to target wealthy politicians when they use racist/ inflammatory language.

[@MFC343]

Exactly dianna Abbott and corbyn should be locked up

[@edmundprice5276]

Equality doesn't mean lynch mobbing and cancelling

[@phil2768]

They CLEARY tell you that they do not want equality, they want to treat people differently (in law) based on a persons lived experience, background or ethnicity. The commons are debating to changing the law to give certain people from certain backgrounds more lenient sentences or outcomes. If that in itself is not systemically discriminatory or racist then I don't know what is!

[@dankprole7884]

Hot take: it's not okay for minorities to use racial stereotypes against other minorities. If someone is being subservient to the powerful group everyone can see it already and we know it won't get them very far.

[@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp]

It's ok for them to call the native population all the racial slurs they can think of though and use the word racist as a weapon against them. Cry harder now it's catching up with you

[@rozme9422]

Stupid to juge the colour ,people should be juge on individual actions only.

[@Thrill_Hou]

Paintings of Coconuts and Daffy Duck gifs are now considered offensive hate speech? 😂😂😂

[@ArthurEmbleton]

And saluting dogs

[@Dabes88]

Try being English

[@GrandpaVince]

It's the age old nutritional v traditional debate

[@onlineonlineaccount2368]

Can we stop using ''Black and Asian'' police officers ! Use the right term Afro-Carribean and Asian police officers. Why is Asian used as term in the rightful way denoting people with Asian decent. But Black is just some vague psuedo-socio-politicla term created by Western world. Majority of ethnic minorities in the UK who are police officers are Asian and Afro-Carribean. Just denoting people as ''black'' means you disregard their respective ethnicity, culture, national heritage. I don't see East Asians in the UK being called ''Yellow people'' all the time.

[@susanwestern6434]

Asians in America are usually assumed to be from east Asia.

[@Dracoti]

Just FYI, "blacks" didn't originate from the Caribbean, so that is a fallacious term

[@onlineonlineaccount2368]

@@Dracoti Who told you they ''orginate from the Carribean ?''. That is why i said Afro-Carribean. Denoting Carribeans of African ancestry and heritage as the Carribean is mix of various groups. You need to edcuate yourself sir and stay out of the hot sun of ignorance. P.S no one is ''black''....its a just a race based color caste system created by western european psuedo intelectuals and psuedo antropologist.

[@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp]

LOL no one cares

[@onlineonlineaccount2368]

@@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp You cared because you responded cl*wn

[@XxTheAwokenOnexX]

Laws should apply to all, and not just to sime people 👍

[@phoque121]

Some people will always find new ways to be the victim 🤷‍♂

[@K55365]

Professor Nate Higgers wrote a very interesting article on racial profiling.

[@geeksworkshop]

The rules and laws should apply to the poor equally.

[@Roxytaniia-qf7lm]

Where r the support groups for these circumstances?

[@asoulalignedhowgodhealshis6682]

I'm sure 12 steps can make up a "disease" for this too

[@manpreetbrar838]

Divide and Rule

[@user-bf7bj5in3s]

the madness of it all ..... smh

[@s3rutob1]

I can't believe this is not satire.....do people not get this??

[@enochbaffour3153]

Id argue victim culture is the issue here. Everyone is offended by everything. How can the comments of the tory donor be considered anything other than racist and inflammatory? That should have gone to the police rather than comparisons with fruit

[@rahuldahoob]

I was once sacked for posting a gif but got

[@nicoledale4004]

Yes; this!

[@vincentblack7467]

If the cap fits...

[@LuiExcalibur]

Blacks and coloureds are hardly in danger like jfk but coloured people having rights is relevant

[@marietedla9997]

If I said a white man , will I be prosecuted? Please any lawyer can help me ?

[@markjones-xs7ns]

Grow up channel 4

[@Symptomless_Coma_]

LOLOLOLOL take the F

[@eveborg1839]

You are guests, who do you think you are? No one asked you to go there or your ancestors. This makes me so cross.. When in Rome do as the Romans do, as simple as that.

[@zolandia5262]

Different people find different things offensive, what a surprise. By the way the coconut lady was being offensive to Polynesians, maybe she should educate herself

[@boonsquits]

Channel 4 News Written by Chris Morris

[@niriop]

Is Symeon Brown the worst journalist in television? Every report he does is racial in nature and is downright awful.

[@rahuldahoob]

Where is sangita myska

[@stephenr.7303]

Channel 4 Asking questions is not enough for u..get busy illustrating 😅 don't just rollout the racism paid professional ..in what is now a mini industry.

[@wexqlp3863]

I believe if you’re from a certain race you should be allowed critique your own race with racial slurs. But you shouldn’t be allowed to critique others communities with racial slurs.

[@ArthurEmbleton]

What if you're mixed race?

[@wexqlp3863]

@@ArthurEmbleton then you can critique both sides. You could count your self lucky.

[@asoulalignedhowgodhealshis6682]

So set an example of something no one else is allowed to do...? You're only offended when you can't control other people's freedom basically

[@tylerr-zj8ou]

Now, they want the privilege of being able to commit hate speech without consequences these people are beyond belief 😂😂😂😂

[@kingvill100]

We could give you lot everything you want and you’d still reason for complaining.

[@sham27007]

This woman is a pakistani racist

[@MichaelJ44]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 yeah, against them

[@KeithRingo]

So woke your entire countries a joke lol

[@thedifferenttraveller5684]

Europe for europeans ONLY.

[@Amanojaku8]

The same for the Americas for Americans, Africa for Africans, Australia for native Australians and Asia for Asians I imagine?

[@realDanielAugustine]

The perpetual victims.

[@rahuldahoob]

I'm very wokey cokey but even I'm confused by this wideo

[@bendaniel2271]

Lord Bailey? C'mon Channel 4. Binface would have been better than him.

[@xTaei]

Race ist

[@rosenylund3452]

Sad how many racists there are in the comments.

[@goergetobias7206]

Britain Gov just can't leave Africa alone.they are at it again sending imigrants they don't want to Rwanda by bribing a dictator lol

[@cornishsea]

We (the state) are just adding diversity to a country with no diversity.. cause diversity is brilliant (apparently) 😅

[@donaldderrick1595]

ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[@belkentens]

2:44 😂 welcome to white world

[@OutofTouch-wg6ey]

Hilarious

[@Tom-nv9lv]

They are coconuts though.

[@boonsquits]

Explain

[@frenzy1111]

As long as Boris Johnson can still say Racist slurs, thats ok i suppose???

[@vietashroffoliver2521]

Coconut is a political critique, actions speak louder than words

[@vietashroffoliver2521]

@@sylezjusz I was merely quoting verbatim "coconut is a political critique " from the video. Did you not watch it? The second part of my sentence is my opinion which I'm fully entitled to. I'm far from being a racist but I do hold judgement as to how one behaves as a human being

[@SpitfireMLG]

@@vietashroffoliver2521She’s changed the definition of that to help her own case because she knows she fucked up.

[@hichamabu441]

England racist country but kids of immigrant mor racist than anyone one in earth.

[@maryamali3347]

The UK has never been, and unfortunately, may never be, a safe place for ethnic minorities. Many leave their countries in search of better opportunities, only to find themselves treated as second-class citizens, facing discrimination and prejudice. It's a harsh reality that underscores the ongoing struggle for equality and fairness.

[@DavidZ4-gg3dm]

If that's the case, why do millions move to the UK, stay & have kids here? The vast majority aren't being held here.

[@johnybecool2810]

Nobody asked you to come.

[@maryamali3347]

@@DavidZ4-gg3dm Millions? Ignorant

[@GhastlyCretin85]

What a load of absolute nonsense. If minorities are ever unsafe in the UK it's because of other minorities. I know you don't actually believe what you spew.

[@GhastlyCretin85]

Absolute nonsense. The only reason minorities are ever unsafe in the UK is at the hands of other minorities and you know it.

[@Breaks4Breaks]

They are coconuts though 😂😂😂

[@JDP1tube]

no its the other way around as you know

[@humanpotatoes4958]

Yes, they are.

[@freshtoast3879]

These people were all for these laws when theyrw used against wĥiťéś

[@ahsenzafar8037]