Sikh man thrown out of Wimbledon queue for ‘making others uncomfortable’

[Devil Soul]

Sikh man thrown out of Wimbledon queue for ‘making others uncomfortable’
July 12, 2016

By: Samaa Web Desk

Published in Global, Life Style

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An aerial view a roofless Centre Court and the outside courts during day four of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2007 in London, England. PHOTO: Getty Images

LONDON: A tennis-lover, who does not wish to be identified, took to Facebook to voice his anger against the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and accused its security officials of racism.

The sportsman, who identifies as a Sikh and wears a turban, wrote on his Facebook on Friday: ‘Kicked out of the overnight camping line for centre court Wimbledon line “because you make some people around you uncomfortable, so we’re gonna have to report you and ask you to leave immediately, sir”.

‘All I wanted was to peacefully chill and patiently await an opportunity to re-enter the hallowed grounds and see the decorated surface while Roger and Milos scamper and glide across it.’

Dozens of people responded to his post saying he should report the ‘discrimination’ to police.

He told an English news website: ‘I felt awful. I felt like I should’ve fought and negotiated but I backed down and silently left.’

‘I don’t feel like I’m ever going back now. It’s still one of my favourite tournaments but can no longer definitively say it’s a lifelong dream to play on centre court.’

He added: ‘While I was in the queue, I befriended other people who were alone and we started talking.

‘None of them gave me the body language that would indicate I should stop talking. I only spoke to people adjacent to me and everyone was fine.’

The tennis-lover managed to get back into the grounds and made an official complaint. PHOTO: EPA

‘But then these blonde haired, blue-eyed ex-military security guards came up to me and told me that I was making people “uncomfortable” and I had to leave.

‘It made me think it was very racist, as I was one of three people of colour out of around 120 other people who weren’t ethnic.’

The sportsman, who dreams of becoming the next Andy Murray, was eventually allowed to enter the ground after re-queuing in the line a few hours later and made an official complaint about his treatment.

A spokesperson for Wimbledon said:

‘We can confirm that a gentleman was asked to leave The Queue at 4.42am this morning (Friday) after a number of complaints from his fellow queuers [were registered] about his behaviour.

He has previously been warned about his conduct in The Queue on up to six separate occasions during this year’s Championships.

We do acknowledge, however, that in this instance the event safety staff could have provided a better explanation to him. Happily, the same person has been in the Grounds today (Friday) watching the tennis.’

But the man, who is in his 20s, insists he did nothing that would warrant being escorted off the grounds; he was not intoxicated, loud or aggressive and had not been previously warned about his behaviour.

The original post appeared in Metro.co.uk.

 

[Jungibaaz]

Bigots are too stupid to know the difference between people they regard as the other. Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, anyone strange or of colour registers as a shady and dangerous individual for some of them.

 

[Penguin]

If true that there were a number of complaints from his fellow queuers about his behaviour and that he was previously warned about his conduct in The Queue (on up to six separate occasions during this year’s Championships), then I think it not strange he was removed

However, the man himself insists he - in his eyes - did nothing that would warrant being escorted off the grounds; he was not intoxicated, loud or aggressive and had not been previously warned about his behaviour. Then again, it is he who uses [unverified] stereotypical descriptions of security guards and makes explicit distinction between 'people of colour' and 'people who weren't ethnic' (forgetting that people born in England of English parents are in essence 'ethnic English'...). And while he asks 'who is at fault?', he at the same time gives answer options that places blame on everything and everyone but himself and/or his own behaviour.

Person of color (alternate spelling: Person of colour, plural: people of color, persons of color, sometimes abbreviated POC) is a term used primarily in the United States and Canada to describe any person who is not white. The term encompasses all non-white groups, emphasizing common experiences of systemic racism. The term is not equivalent in use to "colored", which was previously used in the US as a term for African Americans only.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Person_of_color

An ethnic group or ethnicity is a category of people who identify with each other based on common language, ancestral, social, cultural, or national experiences. Unlike most other social groups, ethnicity is primarily an inherited status.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_group

So, clearly there is the point of contention: who speaks the truth here? Or might both have had a point?
The man himself did ask 'Who is at fault here?'

Either way, IMHO to soon to speak of bigots.

 

[maximuswarrior]

Entirely possible that this man was racially targeted. However, Wimbledon would seem to be the last place where such a disgusting thing could happen. It is after all not a football stadium where hooligans come in heaps. Also, Wimbledon is traditionally a gentleman's arena. Wimbledon usually attracts decent visitors and spectators. You just never know because it is the word of one man against the word of Wimbledon. England has changed a lot after Brexit though. Perhaps they though it was a Muslim...

 

[gayMo]

Hmm..i thought uk was not like us

 

[Djinn]

Indians always rejoice when Muslims are the target and conveniently concoct a plethora of excuses to justify the treatment that is meted out to Muslims.................I hope from incidents like these they will learn that they too can be targeted for being different.

 

[haviZsultan]

Western arrogance and sense of superiority at its peak. As expected no one of color is safe from the machinations of the white man who has constantly treated others as slaves. The Sikh should however report the incident to police and legal action, should atleast be tried to be taken in this case.

 

[Nilgiri]

As expected no one of color is safe from the machinations of the white man who has constantly treated others as slaves.

Don't talk in absolutes like all white people are the same (and negative). Most are good people.

 

[Djinn]

We dont rejoice when Muslims are the target but, our emotion when a Pakistani is caught is debatable.

Well at least you are being honest about that even thou partially.

 

[Tamilnadu]

Indians always rejoice when Muslims are the target and conveniently concoct a plethora of excuses to justify the treatment that is meted out to Muslims.................I hope from incidents like these they will learn that they too can be targeted for being different.

Indians always rejoice when Muslims are the target and conveniently concoct a plethora of excuses to justify the treatment that is meted out to Muslims.................I hope from incidents like these they will learn that they too can be targeted for being different.

Indians always rejoice when Muslims are the target and conveniently concoct a plethora of excuses to justify the treatment that is meted out to Muslims.................I hope from incidents like these they will learn that they too can be targeted for being different.

Dont worry we wont use incidents like these to get radicalised and start terrorism.

 

[Djinn]

Dont worry we wont use incidents like these to get radicalised and start terrorism.

Yes why would you, when your country will get bombed by the so-called allies then you will do a whole lot of other things. Now pay attention to my signature and move on.

 

[A.M.]

"‘We can confirm that a gentleman was asked to leave The Queue at 4.42am this morning (Friday) after a number of complaints from his fellow queuers [were registered] about his behaviour.

He has previously been warned about his conduct in The Queue on up to six separate occasions during this year’s Championships.

We do acknowledge, however, that in this instance the event safety staff could have provided a better explanation to him. Happily, the same person has been in the Grounds today (Friday) watching the tennis.’"

This guy sounds like an attention seeker.

 

[Penguin]

Western arrogance and sense of superiority at its peak. As expected no one of color is safe from the machinations of the white man who has constantly treated others as slaves. The Sikh should however report the incident to police and legal action, should atleast be tried to be taken in this case.

Appararently he didn't. What does that tell us? Why do you think that he didn't (ok, that's asking to speculate rather than stick with fact, but still)

 

[Stephen Cohen]

Was it his Turban that made others uncomfortable

 

[haviZsultan]

Appararently he didn't. What does that tell us? Why do you think that he didn't (ok, that's asking to speculate rather than stick with fact, but still)

I can't speak for him. Sikhs have been on the receiving end for a long time-suspected to be muslims and bullied because of it.