Tenant wanted - but 'not from India, Africa or Pakistan' (From Wimbledon Guardian)
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Tenant in Mitcham wanted - but 'not from India, Africa or Pakistan'
9:20am Friday 31st August 2012 in News Exclusive By Stephanie Harrison
This notice for a spare room was spotted in two Mitcham newsagents
A room to let notice that banned Indians, Pakistanis and Africans from responding has provoked outrage.
The handwritten advertisement appeared in the window of the Mitcham News newsagent in Upper Green East last Monday, August 20, and was also spotted in Bineet newsagent in London Road on Tuesday, August 28.
Iyabode Animashaun, 64, who lives in Armfield Crescent, Mitcham, said: “It’s appalling. I find it offensive.”
Recalling riots in the Westbourne Park area of London in the 1950s, in which signs were posted stating “No blacks, no dogs, no Irish”, the 64-year-old former council road sweeper said: “You can’t permeate that mentality. That mentality has to stop.
“We’re living in a multi-cultural society and it is a really bad attitude to have.”
An employee of the Asian-owned Mitcham News was unperturbed by the advert and declined to comment.
But he did confirm the window advertisements earn the shop £1 each for a one week display.
Police confirmed such an advertisement could fall foul of legislation under the Public Order Act if its content causes harassment, alarm or distress and said they would follow-up on the report.
When contacted, the author of the advertisement laughed when it was put to him that language he used in the posting could be offensive to ethnic minorities.
He said: “It is not racist. We want to live with other eastern European people and I don’t want to waste anybody’s time.
“If you don’t like it, don’t call me, it’s simple. I’ve seen many other ads like this so it’s normal.”
Racism or personal preference? Leave a comment below, call 020 8722 6333, tweet @WimbledonNews or email: newsdesk@wimbledonguardian.co.uk.
Comments(29)
maxicas
says...
3:26pm Fri 31 Aug 12
CelineW
says...
4:04pm Fri 31 Aug 12
because you need to be so narrow minded to publish such a pointless and provocative article.
This is not racism !
It says "a room for a working East European couple".
It does not "banned" Indian, Pakistan and African only !!!!!
It also specified that unemployed and students should not apply.
Then people are reading in between the lines again.
And what if a landlord is being selective ? It is his property after all !
It could also say :
No Pregnant woman.
No children.
No pets.
No bicycle.
No cheque payments.
No musicians.
No smokers.
No alteration to decoration..........
..
**** ! There are thousand and thousand of properties being left emptied because landlords can not be ask to rent any-more because of persecution. Let them have their personal preferences.
Maybe I should complain for discrimination to the Job Centre too for offering a Manual Grade 4 job while I want a Manual grade 3 one !
CelineW
says...
4:04pm Fri 31 Aug 12
because you need to be so narrow minded to publish such a pointless and provocative article.
This is not racism !
It says "a room for a working East European couple".
It does not "banned" Indian, Pakistan and African only !!!!!
It also specified that unemployed and students should not apply.
Then people are reading in between the lines again.
And what if a landlord is being selective ? It is his property after all !
It could also say :
No Pregnant woman.
No children.
No pets.
No bicycle.
No cheque payments.
No musicians.
No smokers.
No alteration to decoration..........
..
**** ! There are thousand and thousand of properties being left emptied because landlords can not be ask to rent any-more because of persecution. Let them have their personal preferences.
Maybe I should complain for discrimination to the Job Centre too for offering a Manual Grade 4 job while I want a Manual grade 3 one !
CelineW
says...
4:05pm Fri 31 Aug 12
because you need to be so narrow minded to publish such a pointless and provocative article.
This is not racism !
It says "a room for a working East European couple".
It does not "banned" Indian, Pakistan and African only !!!!!
It also specified that unemployed and students should not apply.
Then people are reading in between the lines again.
And what if a landlord is being selective ? It is his property after all !
It could also say :
No Pregnant woman.
No children.
No pets.
No bicycle.
No cheque payments.
No musicians.
No smokers.
No alteration to decoration..........
..
**** ! There are thousand and thousand of properties being left emptied because landlords can not be ask to rent any-more because of persecution. Let them have their personal preferences.
Maybe I should complain for discrimination to the Job Centre too for offering a Manual Grade 4 job while I want a Manual grade 3 one !
CelineW
says...
4:05pm Fri 31 Aug 12
because you need to be so narrow minded to publish such a pointless and provocative article.
This is not racism !
It says "a room for a working East European couple".
It does not "banned" Indian, Pakistan and African only !!!!!
It also specified that unemployed and students should not apply.
Then people are reading in between the lines again.
And what if a landlord is being selective ? It is his property after all !
It could also say :
No Pregnant woman.
No children.
No pets.
No bicycle.
No cheque payments.
No musicians.
No smokers.
No alteration to decoration..........
..
**** ! There are thousand and thousand of properties being left emptied because landlords can not be ask to rent any-more because of persecution. Let them have their personal preferences.
Maybe I should complain for discrimination to the Job Centre too for offering a Manual Grade 4 job while I want a Manual grade 3 one !
edstar
says...
7:41pm Fri 31 Aug 12
fedupwithofsted
says...
8:10pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Surreydon
says...
10:33pm Fri 31 Aug 12
tion against white people is very much a reality. Many whites are refused employment by black and Asian companies based on their colour!
I love the way the police say they will "follow up on the report". I wonder why they didn't follow up on the report that drivers flying the English flag were 'advised', by police officers, to remove them in case they offended muslims!!
Personally I'm sick of pandering to the immigrant population who constantly moan about, and seek to change, our way of life.
Surreydon
says...
10:33pm Fri 31 Aug 12
tion against white people is very much a reality. Many whites are refused employment by black and Asian companies based on their colour!
I love the way the police say they will "follow up on the report". I wonder why they didn't follow up on the report that drivers flying the English flag were 'advised', by police officers, to remove them in case they offended muslims!!
Personally I'm sick of pandering to the immigrant population who constantly moan about, and seek to change, our way of life.
snoopy65
says...
11:38pm Fri 31 Aug 12
edstar
says...
12:06am Sat 1 Sep 12
fedupwithofsted wrote:I was just pointing out the definition of racist and how this advert was racist. The advert also didn’t say anything about English people but we agree on one thing. I am not offended either.
Edstar- The advert is stating for Eastern European. Not just people based on race. So no English people can apply either. I am English and I am not offended at all. I doubt many, if any are. Same old people being offended by nothing.
edstar
says...
12:07am Sat 1 Sep 12
snoopy65 wrote:Asking for people who speak certain languages is not racist. Why is it so difficult for some people to understand the difference?
There are adverts in shops in Sutton that specify that they only want people who speak certain languages but this has not been in the guardian???? Is it not up to the person who owns the property who they rent it to not a matter for the police to govern tenancies/rental agreements/adverts
edstar
says...
12:09am Sat 1 Sep 12
Surreydon wrote:What has this got to do with Muslims? Do you see Muslims in your tea? Can you not be British and be a Muslim? Can you not be an African, Indian or Pakistani and not be a Muslim?
Racial predujice/discrimina
tion against white people is very much a reality. Many whites are refused employment by black and Asian companies based on their colour!
I love the way the police say they will "follow up on the report". I wonder why they didn't follow up on the report that drivers flying the English flag were 'advised', by police officers, to remove them in case they offended muslims!!
Personally I'm sick of pandering to the immigrant population who constantly moan about, and seek to change, our way of life.
Personally i am sick of people using Muslims as an excuse for their own problems.
Tobermory
says...
12:10am Sat 1 Sep 12
imalaydee
says...
7:14am Sat 1 Sep 12
Surreydon
says...
9:30am Sat 1 Sep 12
edstar wrote:You are deliberately missing the point, but no surprise there.
Surreydon wrote:What has this got to do with Muslims? Do you see Muslims in your tea? Can you not be British and be a Muslim? Can you not be an African, Indian or Pakistani and not be a Muslim?
Racial predujice/discrimina
tion against white people is very much a reality. Many whites are refused employment by black and Asian companies based on their colour!
I love the way the police say they will "follow up on the report". I wonder why they didn't follow up on the report that drivers flying the English flag were 'advised', by police officers, to remove them in case they offended muslims!!
Personally I'm sick of pandering to the immigrant population who constantly moan about, and seek to change, our way of life.
Personally i am sick of people using Muslims as an excuse for their own problems.
Surreydon
says...
9:32am Sat 1 Sep 12
Tobermory wrote:Whatever.......
They say 'ignorance breeds racism' I suspect the comments above prove that point!
VIOLET50
says...
11:12am Sat 1 Sep 12
VIOLET50
says...
11:12am Sat 1 Sep 12
Tobermory
says...
9:57am Sun 2 Sep 12
moggy80
says...
10:15pm Sun 2 Sep 12
I totally agree with people having prefs to who they live with but I think these guys are just advertising their ignorance here. Maybe they should just head home where they can be 99 per cent sure of living next door to a white person.
moggy80
says...
10:26pm Sun 2 Sep 12
moggy80
says...
10:31pm Sun 2 Sep 12
kingstonpaul
says...
1:37pm Mon 3 Sep 12
mr-bjp
says...
3:01pm Mon 3 Sep 12
kingstonpaul
says...
1:26pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Just as well, they'd probably nick the lavender from your flower beds!
Surreydon
says...
11:04am Wed 5 Sep 12
moggy80 wrote:1. Why not family owned businesses?
Surreydon give me the names of those companies (and not family owned businesses) which will not employ white people please and I will follow it up. I very much doubt you will find many!
2. A lot of the 'problem' businesses are franchised. Try McDonalds, Costcutters, BP & Spar for starters.
Surreydon
says...
11:20am Wed 5 Sep 12
I work with, and often for, black, Asian and Eastern European guys (many 2nd & 3rd generation) and, in the main, get on just fine. When we chat about the current state of this country and it's lunatic immigration policies, the majority resent the way politicians and interfering do-gooders are 'causing' resentment and division!!
mr-bjp says...
12:27pm Fri 31 Aug 12