This happened to me at the weekend and I feel ashamed I did nothing - Racism

[Changedusernameforthis2]

I was at a car boot sale at the weekend and there was a large stall there- that was a man and wife- selling 'fill a bag' type stuff - they were a house clearance company avoiding paying dumping fees I think

There was a lady there who was wearing a headcovering, she kept going behind the stall and they kept shooing her out
The man said in a sort of 'I'm muttering but loud enough for everyone to hear' way - he said "They're like rats, it might help if we stop giving them everything"
I was really shocked and just walked off but I feel really ashamed I didn't tackle it

What can I say if I find myself in this position again? I do not want to stand by and let it happen- I feel embarassed of being a coward

I wouldn’t have said anything OP so don’t feel too bad. Anyone like that is likely to be an extremely nasty and ill educated individual who could get aggressive with you. Although it’s good you felt empathy, it’s best to think of your own safety. Maybe in the future you could think about engaging with the person experiencing the racism instead?

Agreed.

The minimising and trying to rationalise obviously racist behaviour on this thread is so depressing.
Do people actuall really think saying 'THEY are like rats' and 'giving THEM everything' to someone dressed in typically none western clothing and with a head scalf is not a racist comment.
Her behaving badly - not the point of the post and not an excuse or reason to be racists, so stop trying to say it is.
Saying 'they' refers to car boot attendees - seriously? What could possibly lead to that thought process when it's followed up with 'stop handing everything to them'. There's no perception of car boot attendees getting everything handed to them. Since when is that a thing? That perception is only in two contexts- International Protection/asslylum or social welfare recipients.
Where you think one person has behaved badly and then label everyone from their race or assumed background as rats and scroungers. That's about as ingrained racism as you get.
The excuses and bizarre alternative interpretations on here to minimise racist behaviour are disgraceful and just so depressing, tbh.
The question was how to deal with it as a non involved party. I think there is general support for calling it out.

Yes I've been really surprised by it.
Total denial of literal googleable racist tropes widely discussed and a matter of fact.

I haven't been surprised by it. It's very common.

An American woman called a 5 year old autistic child the N word and people blamed the child and sent the women thousands of dollars in solidarity.

Wow

What?!?!
Link to this story please.

I just googled it and there are multiple sources

abcnews.go.com/amp/US/wireStory/woman-called-black-child-slur-raised-backlash-thousands-121576616

Thank you.
I just did the Google thing too. It’s ASTONISHING!

You should see the comments on social media when the story is shared….let’s just say a LOT of people are huge fans of 5 year old black children being racially abused.

At this point you see the wilfulness don't you. 5 year old child deserving of abuse. Righto. The cognitive dissonance to be able to argue that somehow he deserved it or it was acceptable is staggering

American Twitter is mostly focused on black people, the UK seems to be Muslims.

One woman sent hundreds of dollars with the message: "I'm tired of minorities policing our language."

Lots of comments about black people being subhuman, how people are tired of them, getting ready for the race war etc

The man who filmed her was accused of being a paedophile.

I grew up in South Africa so I know my racism! And of course this was racist, disgustingly so. But OP don't worry about not saying anything. People like that man (and the racism apologists in this thread) won't ever change their minds. Racism is a form of psychological blindness, a projection. Yes, people can have their minds changed in some special circumstances, but it won't be because someone tells them off at a car boot sale. That would only make him defensive.

That woman would have annoyed the hell out of me. But it wouldn't occur to me to suddenly start using racist stereotypes and generalisations to express my anger. A person either harbours those prejudiced ideas or they don't.

So I wouldn't have bothered to say anything to him. It wasn't a human rights abuse, it was a racial insult. In SA, it only becomes hate speech, and thus a legal issue, if it's a direct incitement to violence, and this was not.

I don’t use Twitter. Haven’t since Leon Musty took over.

The racist comments on this story are literally wherever it is posted.

I think in the UK while Islamophobia is number 1 and most accepted anti-blackness is also fairly normalised too. Any advert in the UK featuring a mixed couple always attracts vitriol and the comments on news stories you expect to attract sympathy (like a missing child that happens to be black) are a complete s-t show. There just appears to be a huge growth in horrendous racism and bigotry and technology and online spaces appear to be feeding it.

(But I agree with you on the comments on that story. Conservatives openly supporting a white supremacist.)

That woman would have annoyed the hell out of me. But it wouldn't occur to me to suddenly start using racist stereotypes and generalisations to express my anger. A person either harbours those prejudiced ideas or they don't.

Exactly this. People who reach for racism when annoyed were racist to begin with.

Bit like people reaching for racism when there was none there to begin with.

Like claiming anybody with a “Free Gaza” badge is an anti-semite….

😶

I don't remember saying that. I do remember you interpreting my saying that NHS staff shouldn't be donning political badges as me accusing of antisemitism. You're the one who jumped to that conclusion. Funny that. Cognitive bias?

You’d ‘rather’ stand for Palestine than Jews? And you think you’re anti-racist?

Should have said something too late now. Trying to gain sympathy over it. Ridiculous!

Nope, not trying to gain sympathy at all, as clearly stated

Then why make this post??

You claim you're not trying to gain sympathy, so why make the post. What have you gained? You're just posting about how you ignored racism. Just Odd!

Why are you so anxious for racism to be brushed under the carpet?

I think it’s great OP has talked about her regret. I’m very sure next time she will intervene.