Mother hurling abuse on tram, do you think she should be arrested?

[himynameisfred]

Here is the video of it happening.

Do you think the police should respond?

shineynewthings Tue 29-Nov-11 14:19:54

I don't know if i feel more upset by that woman'' appalling racist behaviour, or the evidence on some of these threads that people still think racism is not such a big deal.

Totally agree.

shineynewthings - much more eloquent way of saying it. Completely agree. Shocking really.

The stupid woman couldn't even string a sentence together in English, despite being 'British'. I hate racism passionately and I cannot believe, in this century, that people still believe that a black person cannot be British. I honestly believe that her son would be better off without her, and that is not something I would ever say lightly. She looked to be off her face on something and he looked like he was almost unconcerned about what was happening, which suggests that this wasn't a one-off. This actually made me want to cry... I am white British BTW and her views are as far from mine as humanly possible.

Latsia I think most people are condemning the content as well as the manner of delivery.

However, in some ways the manner of delivery makes it easier to dismiss her as a random bigot under the influence of something rather than address the underlying awfulness of her opinions. The quietly spoken oh so reasonable seeming racists are more worrying because they are harder to spot.

we have to leave the individual to the courts now. Thats the law.

It is good she has been arrested perhaps she should be maid to do community service at an BME organisation. I really feel for her poor son though. He seemed so unaffected by his mums tone she was loud and agitated.

I live in the borough of Croydon as well. Much like the riots, this makes me very sad. But as upsetting as the video is, my experience is that it isn't as uncommon as people would like to think.

Chaz yes fair point it was actually only a handful of comments on this thread that raised my hackles. On the matter of the quietly spoken bigots I also agree and refer you to one or two corners of Oxford uni.

I saw the local luchtime news,and it said the Magistrate has remanded her in custody.

I think everybody is disgusted by what she said and did.
But we all know that racists exist and hold views like hers. What shocked the passengers on the train is how she openly abused people on that train.

I don't think that racists should have their children removed.
I also don't think that racists necessarily have racist parents. Children don't necessarily grow up racist because their parents are.

'I'm sorry to be a bleeding heart liberal'
Don't apologise for that. It is a good thing. I am disgusted by what she said but am also disgusted by the mob who have said disgusting things on twitter. I think they should be prosecuted too.

www.anorak.co.uk/303424/news/is-emma-west-a-victim-of-twitter-hunt-tweeters-want-my-tram-experience-woman-raped-shot-and-knifed.html/

5.-(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he,
(a) uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or
(b) displays any writing, sign or other visible representation
which is threatening, abusive or insulting,
within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment,
alarm or distress thereby.

Well that covers any situation, even one in which people are simply disagreeing so in this case it looks like her defence can be in mitigation only i.e. to lessen her punishment (drugs / alcohol / mental problem).

Really shocked and upset by this footage.

She seems very odd though, was she drunk?

That poor little boy having her as a mum.

I think the law would want us to leave the case to the courts. Thats the way our system works

She looked to me like she was off her head on drugs.

Just been reading some local South London forum and someone on there says her family are known in the locality and are all a bunch of gobby racists. If thats true then I suppose she's been brought up hearing this sort of stuff and accepting it as normal, much like how her little boy is hearing it now. Very sad.

"They should take that poor little boy off her while still in time"

they should work with her and her family to help sort out whatever issues she has with drink/drugs/mental health. They should (and hopefully will) work hard to keep child and mother together but with help.

Yes, sadly she is a racist bigot but there is no law that says you can't be a parent if you are a racist bigot.

I can't stop thinking about the poor boy, and I genually am shocked at his mum's behaviour but that doesn't mean she can't be a good mum in many respects.

my god that woman is vile..

Add message | Report | Message poster BluddyMoFo Tue 29-Nov-11 09:52:54
She IS in the minority MrsJay, most people arent racist I dont believe

I do think alot of people (not me ) do think like she does they just dont shout it out like her ,

It does mean she can't be a good mum in many respects because she is modelling extremely disrespectful and racist behaviour to her dc.

Sorry "she can't be a good mum in many respects" should've been in quote marks. IMO there is no way she can be a good mum.

So everyone on that link (above) thinks she should be shot, burned or raped then shot, or stoned to death. Bloody hell!

So if she is found guilty, what is her punishment likely to be?

I think it is perhaps jumping to conclusions a little to state that people are more bothered about the shouting than the bile coming out of this woman's mouth.

That is not fair, I think everyone is horrified at what she says and how she says it and mention the shouting to cover everything without specifying. I don't think we need it pointing out what she says is abhorrent.

I agree that there is an influence of something there, drugs, drink, whatever and hope she gets the help she so obviously needs. Arresting her might make her the poster girl for such joyous creatures as the BNP - 'look she spoke out and they arrested her, we aren't allowed to have views, ya ya ya...'

I think she is very likely under the influence of drugs or has mental problems. There are many racists, but they don't behave like that on crowded trains if they are by themselves. I doubt she is always like that, because then she would have been arrested many times over already.

It is also not true that once a racist, always a racist. People can and do change over time.

So everyone on that link (above) thinks she should be shot, burned or raped then shot, or stoned to death. Bloody hell!

I think the appropriate punishment is to remove her benefits, remove her from council housing and let her find a job and fend for herself.

Working hard and all hours of the day to feed, clothe and house yourself has a wonderful way of focusing the mind.

She didn't look right to me - like she was under the influence of something,

That poor little boy having to listen to that.

Yes - glad to see the travellers hold it together.

I could be snide and say she barely sounds English herself.

She looks drunk, or some sort of issues.