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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Racism on Facebook page condemned | Racism on Facebook page condemned |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Racists comments celebrating the abuse of ethnic minority flower sellers on a dedicated Facebook page must be "condemned outright", an MLA has said. | Racists comments celebrating the abuse of ethnic minority flower sellers on a dedicated Facebook page must be "condemned outright", an MLA has said. |
| Anna Lo, Northern Ireland's only ethnic minority Assembly member, was reacting to a group called "abusing Belfast rose sellers" on the social networking site. | Anna Lo, Northern Ireland's only ethnic minority Assembly member, was reacting to a group called "abusing Belfast rose sellers" on the social networking site. |
| On the page, rose sellers were called "scum" and one man described how his friend urinated on a Romanian woman. | On the page, rose sellers were called "scum" and one man described how his friend urinated on a Romanian woman. |
| By Monday, the group had 372 "fans". It appears to have now been removed. | By Monday, the group had 372 "fans". It appears to have now been removed. |
| The well-known blogger and former SDLP advisor, Conall McDevitt, said the site was full of "hateful comments" and appeared to be the work of "a sad group of students". | The well-known blogger and former SDLP advisor, Conall McDevitt, said the site was full of "hateful comments" and appeared to be the work of "a sad group of students". |
| 'Headlock' | 'Headlock' |
| He added that he thought it was time for the Assembly to look into online bullying. | He added that he thought it was time for the Assembly to look into online bullying. |
| One contributor to the Facebook page wrote: "I tend to get one or two in a headlock after a night out." | One contributor to the Facebook page wrote: "I tend to get one or two in a headlock after a night out." |
| Another posted: "If you talk to them in a Borat accent and pretend that they are Jews, its quite effective." | Another posted: "If you talk to them in a Borat accent and pretend that they are Jews, its quite effective." |
| The most abusive comments contained offensive language and cannot be transcribed on this site. | The most abusive comments contained offensive language and cannot be transcribed on this site. |
| In some cases, the contributors' comments were accompanied by their photos. | In some cases, the contributors' comments were accompanied by their photos. |
| Not everyone who posted comments on the site agreed with the general theme of the thread however. | Not everyone who posted comments on the site agreed with the general theme of the thread however. |
| One accused other contributors of racism and told them to "get a life". | One accused other contributors of racism and told them to "get a life". |
| Police response | Police response |
| When contacted about the content of the page, the police said they were not aware of any complaints. | When contacted about the content of the page, the police said they were not aware of any complaints. |
| A PNSI spokeswoman said: "We do not monitor internet sites on a daily basis. | A PNSI spokeswoman said: "We do not monitor internet sites on a daily basis. |
| "However, we will take appropriate action where we receive a complaint of a criminal offence committed within our jurisdiction." | "However, we will take appropriate action where we receive a complaint of a criminal offence committed within our jurisdiction." |
| Earlier this year, Roma families fled their homes in south Belfast after they said they had been intimidated by racists. | Earlier this year, Roma families fled their homes in south Belfast after they said they had been intimidated by racists. |