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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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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. |
| When contacted, Facebook said the page had been removed from their site. | |
| A spokeswoman for the company said they had taken the incident "especially seriously because there was a direct call for violence". | |
| "We want Facebook to be a place where people can openly discuss issues and express their views, while respecting the rights and feelings of others. | |
| "This group violates our terms and so it has been removed," she said. | |
| 'Hateful comments' | |
| Shortly before the page was taken down on Monday afternoon, the group had 372 "fans". | |
| 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". |
| 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. |