This Student Union Officer Could Lose Her Job After Posting “#KillAllWhiteMen” On Facebook
Bahar Mustafa, a student union officer at Goldsmiths, University of London, has been accused of being racist toward white people on campus. But her supporters say she’s been misrepresented and deliberately attacked.
1. This is Bahar Mustafa, the welfare & diversity officer at Goldsmiths, University of London.
2. In April, she was criticised by a number of national newspapers for holding an anti-racism event where she asked white people and males not to attend.
3. She was also pictured in front of a sign saying “No White Cis Men Please”, pretending to cry.
4. On Tuesday, Mustafa allegedly wrote “#killallwhitemen” on her Facebook page, and called a student “white trash” using an official student union Twitter account.
In a statement, she defended the use of the hashtag as an “in-joke” but recognised it could be “alienating” and “troubling” to some.
She said:
Regarding my use of hashtags: these were done on my personal account, which is separate to my work account.
However, I still recognise and understand how this can be alienating and troubling to some.
These are in-jokes and ways that many people in the queer feminist community express ourselves it’s a way of reclaiming the power from the trauma many of us experience as queers, women, people of colour, who are on the receiving end of racism, misogyny and homophobia daily.
The posts have since been deleted from Facebook and Twitter.
6. Now she could lose her job, after more than 13,000 people signed a petition to have her removed.
She is currently on a paid sabbatical to work for the student union.
8. As a result of the petition, Mustafa’s supporters have taken to social media to show solidarity, using the hashtag #supportbaharmustafa.
#SupportBaharMustafa because the people crucifying her for tweeting #KillAllMen hardly bat an eyelid when #KillAllMuslims trends worldwide
— MrPooni (@Glen Coco)
I #supportbaharmustafa because safe spaces for minority groups are essential for our health and happiness.
— littlehux (@~fish grrrl~)
I #supportbaharmustafa and every single thing her detractors say just prove that cis white men shouldn't be allowed in safe spaces.
— stavvers (@sjw doof warrior)
I #supportbaharmustafa because freedom of speech means being prepared to deal with opinions you don't like. :)
— renireni (@Reni Eddo-Lodge)
14. However, the hashtag – which became one of the top trends on Twitter in the UK – has also been used by Mustafa’s opponents to accuse her of harboring racist and sexist views.
i dont #supportbaharmustafa bc sexism is sexism&discrimination is discrimination wether its victim is black, a woman..etc or a white male
— RustyKesha (@was @ImInloveWkesha)
Why in god's name would you #supportbaharmustafa ?? A diversity officer is meant to represent and, you know, not harbour racist leanings
— Edwoodwood25 (@Eddie)
#SupportBaharMustafa because apparently a person's ability to think and feel hinges on their race, gender and sexuality!
— rhielovesyouami (@Problematicorn)
I #supportbaharmustafa to be fired. Racism is racism no matter what way round it's used.
— kendo1184 (@Kendo, occasionally)
I do #supportbaharmustafa to be sacked from her job as a UNI diversity (laughable) officer
— Vix_mardybum (@Victoria)
If you require a #safespace upon entering college, you are not a feminist, you are still a toddler. #supportbaharmustafa
— MayaHeidi (@Maya)
20. Mustafa claimed earlier this month that she could not be racist because she was an ethnic minority woman.
“I, an ethnic minority woman, cannot be racist or sexist towards white men, because racism and sexism describe structures of privilege based on race and gender,” she said.
“Therefore, women of colour and minority genders cannot be racist or sexist, since we do not stand to benefit from such a system.”
-
Facebook Deleted A Post About A Tibetan Monk Setting Himself On Fire
- University College London Closed An Exhibition That Displayed Students’ Stories Of Sexual Harrassment
- Two Durham Students Rescued From River In Which Three Have Drowned
- Women Are Taking Leg Selfies After A Student Was Banned From An Exam For Wearing A Skirt
-
First Batch Of Hillary Clinton’s Libya Emails Published
-
ISIS Reportedly Enters Ruins In Ancient City Of Palmyra
-
Ted Cruz Headlining Fundraiser For Oklahoma GOP Amid Internal Controversy
-
Malaysia To Start Migrant Boat Search & Rescue As Myanmar Joins Talks
-
Omaha Officer Shot Dead The Day Before She Was To Begin Maternity Leave
-
Security Video Supports Claim That Twin Peaks Shooting Started In The Parking Lot
-
Another Political News Site, But This One Will Sell You Things
-
Weighing The Promises Of Big Genomics
-
Meet The Palestinian Refugee Camp Theater Group That’s Touring The World