The Metropolitan
police is investigating a hate crime after a Pride marcher was verbally abused by a woman.
A clip was posted to
Twitter of a Muslim woman shouting at a man adorned in a pride flag at the Waltham Forest Pride event on Saturday.
“God created Adam and Eve - not Adam and Steve. [...] Shame on all of you, despicable people,” she said as the man looks on.
“We are aware of footage circulating on social media of abuse directed at those taking part in the Waltham Forest Pride event #wearewalthamforestpride and enquiries are underway. Abusing someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is a hate crime,” a statement from the police force read.
“If you have been verbally or physically abused, harassed or attacked in any way by someone because you are or they think you are LGBT+ please report these crimes to police or through a third party agency.” Apparently this is from Waltham Forest Pride today. Slightly surreal to hear the Muslim woman quote a line from Alan Partridge when berating this poor man. pic.twitter.com/EYp2O6vivQ— Paul Embery (@PaulEmbery) July 27, 2019Reacting to the video, Stella Creasy, the Walthamstow MP, tweeted: “Gutted to see this and clear such hatred isn’t acceptable anywhere let alone in our home town- proud that many from all faiths and none today including Islam joined the Waltham Forest Pride march to show Walthamstow really does mean welcome #loveislove”.Gutted to see this and clear such hatred isn't acceptable anywhere let alone in our home town- proud that many from all faiths and none today including Islam joined the Waltham Forest Pride march to show Walthamstow really does mean welcome #loveislovehttps://t.co/9ocEyy4tsQ— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) July 27, 2019Throughout Sunday morning, the MP defended Islam against critics who suggested that the abusive woman’s behaviour is a reflection of the religion’s values.
“For those asking - Just as the example of hate crime that took place in Walthamstow being circulated does not reflect all muslims, so I’d like to confirm that Katie Hopkin’s views don’t reflect those of all blonde women. #notinmyname#loveislove,” she wrote.
This came immediately after right-wing commentator Katie Hopkins shared the video, suggesting that hate crimes are prone to happen within the area because of the high number of ethnic minorities living there.
“This is Walthamstow Forest in London. 50% ethnic minority (minority?), 22% Muslim; most common minority nationality; Pakistani; most common minority language - Urdu. Do you see where we are headed yet? Waking up yet?,” she said.
Creasy was quick to condemn Hopkins: “do one- @KTHopkins - don’t use walthamstow to justify your islamophobia. We see your true agenda when you don’t share the community challenging this woman AND the representation of Muslims on our pride march. You don’t defend
British values with this shit-you deface them. Go away.”
HuffPost
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