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Liverpool's mayor demands The Sun sack Kelvin MacKenzie over 'racist' column on Everton footballer | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, has called on The Sun to sack its columnist Kelvin MacKenzie, after he compared Everton footballer Ross Barkley, who is mixed-race, to a gorilla. | |
Mr MacKenzie, a former editor of the paper, wrote that he was not surprised the midfielder was punched in a nightclub, because he was like an animal in a zoo. | |
The piece was accompanied by a picture of the footballer juxtaposed with a picture of a gorilla. | The piece was accompanied by a picture of the footballer juxtaposed with a picture of a gorilla. |
Merseyside police have confirmed they are investigating complaints of a racial hate crime in relation to the article. | Merseyside police have confirmed they are investigating complaints of a racial hate crime in relation to the article. |
The piece also offended many in Liverpool, where, according to the columnist, “the only men with similar pay packets [to Mr Barkley] are drug dealers.” | The piece also offended many in Liverpool, where, according to the columnist, “the only men with similar pay packets [to Mr Barkley] are drug dealers.” |
News UK, the parent company which owns The Sun, said they have suspended Mr MacKenzie while the incident is “fully investigated”. | |
The statement also claimed “the paper was unaware of Ross Barkley's heritage and there was never any slur intended.” | The statement also claimed “the paper was unaware of Ross Barkley's heritage and there was never any slur intended.” |
Mr Anderson said: “Make no mistake about it, MacKenzie’s words were racist. | |
“Kelvin’s words will have been passed through several people and signed off by an editor. Ignorance simply cannot be used as a defence.” | “Kelvin’s words will have been passed through several people and signed off by an editor. Ignorance simply cannot be used as a defence.” |
The mayor, who is an Everton fan, has also been leading a campaign for the club to boycott The Sun and ban its journalists from their press conferences. | The mayor, who is an Everton fan, has also been leading a campaign for the club to boycott The Sun and ban its journalists from their press conferences. |
“Despite my best to encourage Everton FC to ban The Sun, I can’t help but feel a sense of betrayal in the knowledge that our club gives cover to journalists of the very same publication that continues to attack and smear the people of Liverpool,” he said. | “Despite my best to encourage Everton FC to ban The Sun, I can’t help but feel a sense of betrayal in the knowledge that our club gives cover to journalists of the very same publication that continues to attack and smear the people of Liverpool,” he said. |
Today, Everton and Liverpool fans will mark the 28th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 people lost their lives. | Today, Everton and Liverpool fans will mark the 28th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 people lost their lives. |
Mr Anderson has called on Everton supporters to turn their backs to the pitch at 3.06pm, the exact time the semi-final match at Hillsborough was abandoned, to “send a clear message to the board that The Sun is not welcome at our club”. | Mr Anderson has called on Everton supporters to turn their backs to the pitch at 3.06pm, the exact time the semi-final match at Hillsborough was abandoned, to “send a clear message to the board that The Sun is not welcome at our club”. |
Mr MacKenzie was editor of The Sun when the paper published its infamous allegations that Liverpool fans had urinated on police officers and picked the pockets of corpses at Hillsborough. | |
The move prompted a widespread boycott of the paper in Liverpool that is still observed by many. | The move prompted a widespread boycott of the paper in Liverpool that is still observed by many. |
In February, Liverpool FC banned The Sun from its press conferences in relation to its historic Hillsborough coverage. | In February, Liverpool FC banned The Sun from its press conferences in relation to its historic Hillsborough coverage. |
The accusations have since been proven false, while a jury found in April last year that the 96 victims were unlawfully killed following a 27-year legal battle for justice, led by the families of those who died. | The accusations have since been proven false, while a jury found in April last year that the 96 victims were unlawfully killed following a 27-year legal battle for justice, led by the families of those who died. |
At the time of writing, a Change.org petition calling on Everton to boycott the paper had gained 1,220 signatures. | At the time of writing, a Change.org petition calling on Everton to boycott the paper had gained 1,220 signatures. |
Everton Football Club has been contacted for comment. | Everton Football Club has been contacted for comment. |
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