A pensioner repainted the face of a black figure on a Native American totem
pole he had erected in his garden after a “woke neighbour” complained to
police that it was racist.
Brian Connery, who is an enthusiast of Native American culture, installed the
10ft decorative wooden feature earlier this summer in front of his bungalow
in Brantham, Suffolk.
However, a villager took exception to a carved wooden figure on the pole
which depicted a grinning black man with bright white teeth, wearing a blue
suit.
The anonymous local sparked an investigation into a potential hate crime by
complaining to police that the figure had “racist overtones”
Mr Connery has now painted the face white to avoid causing any further
offence after discussions with police, even though he believes he has the
support of his neighbours.
Police are understood to have ruled that they did not believe Mr Connery had
committed a hate crime after visiting him and examining the totem pole.
Officers reportedly recorded it as “a possible public order offence, due to the
visual representation which caused alarm and distress to members of the
public”, according to local news website Shotley Peninsula Nub News.
Officers are said to have taken no further action against Mr Connery after
they accepted that he did not mean to cause any offence and would “rectify
the matter”.
Mr Connery, who drives a pick-up truck decorated with pictures of bison and
Indian chiefs, confirmed that he had repainted the black man’s face after
discussions with police.
He said: “That is the agreement I had. All I want to say is that someone
made a complaint it was racist, and I repainted it white, and that’s it. The
police were happy with it. Everyone was happy with it. They were happy with
it before it was white.
“My neighbours have been supportive. There have been 93 comments on
Facebook and none of them were against me. It is just that somebody is
woke.”
A Suffolk Police spokesman said: “Police are aware of the concerns raised by
members of the public and are engaging with the homeowner regarding the
matter.” (or talking to him in non BS speak)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...ke-neighbours/
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