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Tottenham Hotspur took a strong stance Tuesday against a racist protest in Hertfordshire that may have included Spurs fans.
On Monday, there was a Black Lives Matter protest in Hoddestown in support of the movement that has gained so much momentum since George Floyd was murdered by members of the Minneapolis Police Department on May 25 in Minnesota. Sadly, counter protesters also appeared at the rally to make their voices heard by yelling slurs and other forms of abuse at the peaceful gathering.
Much of this was brought into the public eye by Declan McKenna, a musician who was at the protest and alerted the club that some of the harassers claimed to support Tottenham.
Spurs responded appropriately on Twitter this morning.
These are no fans of ours. This Club does not tolerate racist, discriminatory or hateful behaviour of any kind. We are looking into this and will take the necessary action against any so-called ‘fan’ involved. https://t.co/0cB0SfjnZE
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 9, 2020
The “necessary action” is most likely a ban of some sort, and it’s absolutely deserved. Videos on social media show the counter protesters showing up to yell things like “Go back to Africa” at the group protesting against police brutality and other racial injustices.
These protests have recently spread to the United Kingdom, and all across the world, after originating in the United States following the murder of Floyd. The movement only gained more steam when American police responded to peaceful protests with acts of organized violence.
Spurs showed their support by tweeting #BlackLivesMatter on June 2. Hopefully, they will be following that up with donations to local organizations who are working for a just and more equitable society.
If someone was reported for saying this at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, they’d most likely be banned. Why shouldn’t the same be true here? Even if this didn’t happen at a Spurs event, there should be absolutely no room for racism at this club.