Brighton beachgoers came to the aid of two “refugees” who had rowed on to the city’s shore only to be confronted by an angry onlooker.
The heated dispute was staged by video pranksters Trollstation and has been viewed more than 180,000 times in a matter of days.
Oh, what jolly japes!
The group has described the stunt as a social experiment to see how beachgoers would react to the situation.
And how did they act? Well, as you'd expect. For Brighton.
An onlooker on the beach, also an actor, reacted with fury to the scene, grabbing hold of the “refugees” dinghy and then grabbing them while telling them they are not allowed in.
He calls on others to help "keep the foreigners out" but Brighton beachgoers instead encouraged the pair to come ashore and ask the man to leave them alone.
The group of onlookers try to get between him and the two refugee actors while another by-stander pushes him in the chest and calls him “heartless”.
*sighs*
Richard Williams, chairman of Brighton refugee charity Sanctuary on Sea, said: "I think with these things its all about context and the context here is that for every 23 people crossing the Mediterranean, one person has died.
"This weekend a boy died in Calais who had a right to be in the UK but the Government was so slow processing his claim.
"That is the context to what some people might describe as just a bit of fun.
"But it is good to see that, as we know of Brighton already, that it is a tolerant place that will not have anything to do with the attitudes that actor was displaying."
No doubt the people smugglers have taken note of this idea place to make landfall. Well done, idiots!
"... had a right to be in the UK"
ReplyDeleteThe only right to a place in the UK is to be born here of British parents.
Be they native or naturalized.
FULL STOP
End of debate.
As for the Brighton beachcombers they're welcome to take home any refugees they find washed up on their beach.
It had to be a stunt. If any real refugees ever washed up on Brighton's seafront they would take one loom at the place and immediately decide to row all the way back to Syria.
ReplyDeletemaybe the govt should put a big `refugee` resettlement centre right in the middle of Brighton then,since they`re so welcoming and sympathetic.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how long their sympathies will last once the inevitable thefts,violent mobs and sex crimes start happening?
Liberals wont believe what the rest of us know until they see or experience it first hand.
If Brighton's residents want to welcome the "refugees" let the "refugees" STAY in Brighton.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that the welcoming mood will soon change.
"As for the Brighton beachcombers they're welcome to take home any refugees they find washed up on their beach."
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't encourage them! Some undoubtedly would...
"It had to be a stunt. If any real refugees ever washed up on Brighton's seafront they would take one loom at the place and immediately decide to row all the way back to Syria."
Heh!
"I'm sure that the welcoming mood will soon change."
The next Brighton Pride march might be somewhat problematic...