Zimbabwean student at UK university racially abused in ‘we hate the blacks’ video… two students arrested
By John Shammas | The Sun |
Two teenage students have been arrested after a Zimbabwean female student in the UK shared a video on social media of people congregating outside her room while chanting: “We hate the blacks.”
The footage was filmed by Nottingham Trent University student Rufaro Chisango and shared on Twitter.
It appears to show boozed-up students chanting football songs to the words: “We hate the blacks”, while others confront them.
The student who filmed the video wrote: “Yoo I’m fuming, the way people in the same uni halls as me are chanting ‘we hate the blacks’ outside my bedroom door.
yoo I’m fuming, the way people in the same uni halls as me are chanting “we hate the blacks” outside my bedroom door. Words cannot describe how sad this makes me feel, in this 2018 people think this is still acceptable😤 pic.twitter.com/XUiYqNIWQT
— Ruu (@rufarochisango_) March 7, 2018
“Words cannot describe how sad this makes me feel, in 2018 people think this is still acceptable.”
She added: “Okay this happened Monday night, the video wasn’t able to catch what else they were saying which was ‘blacks would go back to picking cotton’.
“I’m the only black person on my floor and they were chanting this outside my door so don’t be surprised to why I didn’t leave my room.
“I told the reception and they said that this will be dealt with Tuesday morning, they took my details and said they would inform me… it’s Wednesday night and they haven’t.
“I have written a statement and sent it to the uni, and so have my parents and some friends.
“Go ahead, this issue should not be swept under the rug, it was clear my voice alone wasn’t sufficient enough for further action or a least reassurance for my safety so pls do.”
On social media, students are demanding that those doing the chanting are removed from the university.
Writing on Facebook, Abbey Paterson wrote: “These students need to be identified and removed from the uni.
“Will Nottingham Trent University tolerate this?”
Labour MP David Lammy also saw the video.
He wrote: “Please contact the Police and your Member of Parliament and cc me in.
“All my love and solidarity.”
Nottingham Trent University told The Sun Online: “We are shocked and appalled to see the video of racist chanting posted yesterday evening. This kind of vile behaviour will not be tolerated at Nottingham Trent University. Those suspected perpetrators have been suspended immediately pending a full investigation.
“We have contacted the student who made the complaint and are providing support to her and others affected. And we will be liaising with the police about this incident.
“We value being a diverse global community, with staff and students from across the world.
“We are also working with our accommodation partner to understand why the University was only alerted to this on Wednesday evening after this was reported to them in the very early hours of Tuesday.”
Nottinghamshire Police said in a statement: “We’ve arrested two men in connection with racially aggravated public order offences following reports of a video posted at Nottingham Trent University and shared on social media.
“The men, aged 18, remain in police custody. Our enquiries are ongoing.”
