He had a minder accompanying him, whose whole purpose would have been to check things like that out. So neither his skin colour nor his handicap were at all relevant. Any awkward and stubborn interloper (and the video shows he did display noisy anger in the face of a polite - and discreet - request to vacate) would have been treated in the same way.

Maybe, just maybe, he knew exactly what he was doing and this is a manufactured row.

I agree about the skin colour. His handicap is harder to decide. He seemed to be alone in the video. Not seeing the layout of the room, signs etc. could make a difference. And being manhandled must be much worse when you can't see. Ultimately though it's all about details we don't have.

Reply 63

username4986690

19

Original post by Good bloke

He had a minder accompanying him, whose whole purpose would have been to check things like that out. So neither his skin colour nor his handicap were at all relevant. Any awkward and stubborn interloper (and the video shows he did display noisy anger in the face of a polite - and discreet - request to vacate) would have been treated in the same way.

Maybe, just maybe, he knew exactly what he was doing and this is a manufactured row.

How did they manufacturer the security staff acting with such violence? Is being dragged by the ankles typical procedure?

Reply 64

Good bloke

19

Original post by chazwomaq

He seemed to be alone in the video.

I have seen a video of him being led in to the venue to bag his seat by the minder (and then out again).

Reply 65

looloo2134

17

Original post by BlueIndigoViolet

They were extremely heavy handed, the slimy president, Brendan McGrath has withdrawn his charge after publicising his name and laughing about kicking him out, and was not his first misdemanor and is now under impeachment proceedings led by the President of Mansfield College arguing for the person kicked out.

Hope the airheads who dealt with this take this as a learning moment, about basic human decency.

Being a Master student at Oxford and paying high fees and being entitled he most likely give work class guards a load of mouth.

Reply 66

username402722

19

I wonder what the former Presidents of the Oxford Union thing about this? Several are in parliament, one is now the worst PM ever.

Reply 67

Good bloke

19

Original post by DiddyDecAlt

How did they manufacturer the security staff acting with such violence? Is being dragged by the ankles typical procedure?

How would you remove a noisy and stubbornly resisting interloper so that the event can start? Charm? A spell?

Reasonable force is allowed in such circumstances. He was not struck or injured, and did force the situation, it seems.

Or do blind black people get a free pass to behave as badly as they want?

Reply 68

maachu_pichuu

20

Original post by BlueIndigoViolet

They were extremely heavy handed, the slimy president, Brendan McGrath has withdrawn his charge after publicising his name and laughing about kicking him out, and was not his first misdemanor and is now under impeachment proceedings led by the President of Mansfield College, Helen Mountfield QC, arguing for the person kicked out.

Unable to read minds to figure out the thought processes of the staff, but do think race did play a factor in the forcefulness of his removal (personal opinion)

Hope the airheads who dealt with this take this as a learning moment about basic human decency.

Some people are born racists, they want any reason to show superiority of themselves over others. People should be sacked over this, but we know nothing will happen. If you have white skin in this country, you are already given way more leniency and benefit of the doubt.

Reply 69

Azagthoa

12

Original post by BlueIndigoViolet

They were extremely heavy handed, the slimy president, Brendan McGrath has withdrawn his charge after publicising his name and laughing about kicking him out, and was not his first misdemanor and is now under impeachment proceedings led by the President of Mansfield College, Helen Mountfield QC, arguing for the person kicked out.

Unable to read minds to figure out the thought processes of the staff, but do think race did play a factor in the forcefulness of his removal (personal opinion)

Hope the airheads who dealt with this take this as a learning moment about basic human decency.

Brendan McGrath should resign (or be forcefully removed) as president of the Union, apologise, and attend a mandatory diversity awareness course where he can learn of the harm is violent actions have caused this person and the black community at large in Oxford (and beyond).

Reply 70

Good bloke

19

Original post by maachu_pichuu

If you have white skin in this country, you are already given way more leniency and benefit of the doubt.

Unless you are a security guard dealing with an obstructive blind, black, politically active interloper, it seems, when all the benefit of the doubt goes the other way.

Reply 71

Azagthoa

12

Original post by Good bloke

You are confused. This Ghanaian man has himself colonised Oxford. If you want to decolonise it that would involve sending him home to get his education in Ghana and not exploiting the university's shortage of income.

Decolonising a curriculum/university simply means we should not be forced to only learn the teachings of old white elite men, but instead learn from a wider variety of sources, authors and 'othered' knowledge from prominent black writers, women and those who identify as LGBT. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/27/decolonise-elite-white-men-decolonising-cambridge-university-english-curriculum-literature

Reply 72

BlueIndigoViolet

19

Original post by Good bloke

How would you remove a noisy and stubbornly resisting interloper so that the event can start? Charm? A spell?

Reasonable force is allowed in such circumstances. He was not struck or injured, and did force the situation, it seems.

Or do blind black people get a free pass to behave as badly as they want?

lmao "reasonable force is allowed", even the Union has apologised for being OTT, only you are defending them dragging out a blind man, who happened to come back to a seat which noone was sitting next to (even if this was wrong, there is something called decency)

Helen Mountfield QC, principal of Mansfield College who represents Mr Azamati, said there were ongoing talks with the union over what steps it can take to address the "failings" exposed by this case.

Mountfield argues McGrath, as president, was “principal responsible for actions of security guards acting as agents of the society”, arguing that “normal principles of vicarious liability” apply, which render employers legally liable for offences committed by employees while carrying out their duties.

The security guards “subjected [the member] to unlawful assault in pulling him by the legs” and removed him from the chamber “in a way which could not reasonably be justified as necessary”, depriving him of his right to use the society’s buildings enshrined in the rules.

https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2019/11/16/mansfield-principal-takes-on-union-president-with-discrimination-charges/

Reply 73

looloo2134

17

Original post by maachu_pichuu

Some people are born racists, they want any reason to show superiority of themselves over others. People should be sacked over this, but we know nothing will happen. If you have white skin in this country, you are already given way more leniency and benefit of the doubt.

The working class white lad from the North East who go to one of the worst unfunded school in Britain life better than the black lad who go to excellence highly funded state school in London and get in to medical school.

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 74

nulli tertius

21

Original post by barnetlad

I wonder what the former Presidents of the Oxford Union thing about this? Several are in parliament, one is now the worst PM ever.

Reed-Mogg is a trustee of the Union’s charitable trust.

Reply 75

BlueIndigoViolet

19

Original post by looloo2134

The working class white lad from the North East who go to one of the worst unfunded school in Britain. Would like to ask how he life is better than the black lad who go to excellence school highly funded state school in London and get in to medical school.