Stories of local crime and vandalism are beginning to reach Rye News on a more regular basis. Recently we’ve run stories on the break-ins on Rye High Street, reports of cars being keyed, malicious damage to buildings and property, dog thefts, attacks on horses, road rage incidents and fly tipping.
In this week’s Rye News we are also covering the tragic death which took place last weekend at Park Dean holiday resort at Camber Sands. We are not immune to crime, despite living in a relatively safe area but it seems as if crime and anti-social behaviour is on the increase in this part of East Sussex. These are just the crimes we are all made aware of.
To add to the list, offensive graffiti has now appeared at Winchelsea Beach. Is it just mindless vandalism or should these messages be taken more seriously? Who did this? Did anyone see them doing it?
Image Credits: Susan Benn .
For info: this graffiti is at Pett Level, not Winchelsea Beach. This should be taken seriously as it incites hatred, which is shameful.
Pett Level is where Farage turned up during the first lock- down, claiming to be a journalist and above the law, and delivered a 19-minute video claiming Pett Level was overrun with immigrants landing on the shore. Dreary drivel inflaming his fanbase.
By the look of the grammar they’d have been better off spending more time in school learning the basics.
Someone has also sprayed ‘white lives matter’ on the road surface. I’ve reported the graffiti on the wall to the council four times and I’ve tried twice to clean this graffiti off with graffiti remover with very limited success. The council need to prioritise it because it’s extremely offensive and it’s not an exaggeration to say that it incites hatred. I hate the thought of visitors to the area wondering what kind of bigoted people live here. Everyone should feel welcome in this lovely part of the world.
PS
I suggest everyone phones Rother District Council on 01424 787000. Hold for a Customer Service Officer. Say: please remove the racist graffiti on the sea wall and road at Pett Level as it is not in my name. If a photo is requested, reference this article in Rye News (online).
I advised the helpful Customer Services Officer that I was about to tell people to contact Rother District Council to request that the graffiti be removed.
I also noted that I had attempted to complete their online form, but it would not accept my details. It seems this happens from time to time.
For info: it took about 25 mins to queue before I was answered. It felt worth it. I felt heard.
(Go for it – good luck!)
Whilst I am sympathetic to the cause, what is being suggested seems disproportionate to the damage/harm done. I don’t think “terrorist-type” tactics are appropriate and it would be preferable to gain the support of local councillors, etc. and plan a considered approach to Rother to get the mess cleaned up. “Phone bombing” is likely to seriously alienate them and credibility will be shot to pieces the next time their assistance is needed.
John, I meant no disrespect to Rother. I think they manage an impossibly huge task. But graffiti grates. It’s a visual advert for the area.
I told the Customer Services Officer of my intent to advise readers to request Rother to remove the graffiti. I heard acceptance, not horror.
I think this graffiti is hate crime and is thus illegal. I understand that the police have been informed yet the graffiti remains. This does not speak for me. I want it removed.
To answer the question posed, yes, we have to take it seriously, bcs it’s emblematic of currents in our society. We all know it is. They’re unpleasant currents, they’re potentially dangerous currents, but they’re also currents we can’t, alas, ignore. When you review the logic that would employ criminal damage to broadcast a commentary on crime, you know this is about something much more visceral and reflexive than reason. It’s about fear, perceived injustice, possibly education, but almost certainly, centuries of social conditioning about race, religion and ethnic hierarchies. Tragically, we can’t just jet wash that away like painted propaganda from the culture war… But we can start to acknowledge where these atavistic instincts really come from, and until we accept that, the problem will probably persist.
If the graffiti on the road causes offence, and it is not removed, why not change it to “All Lives Matter” ?
Surely “All lives matter” is still graffiti, there’s some really clever graffiti out there but it’s still criminal damage however good or well meaning it is.
I’ll tell you why I’m not sure that’s the answer, Margot. First, it would be a further act of criminal damage. Second, and perhaps more importantly in the broader context, you may or may not realise that mantra is saying something entirely different.
That riposte has been weaponised by political movements that want to harness anger and resentment as a way to mobilise support. It’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, bcs it’s not quite the humane, common sense statement it seems. What that ‘All lives matter’ riposte is actually saying is, ‘I don’t feel comfortable with all this focus on minority rights and equality.’ There are some perfectly legitimate reasons why people might feel that way. The palatable ones have nothing to do with race, but might be stimulated by people’s own feelings of neglect. But the trouble with those movements that want to harness anger and blame other groups of people for their woes, is that they are really divisive. Indeed, they thrive on polarisation – ‘with us or against us’. And we’ll spend so much time tearing one another to shreds that nothing will change for the better for anyone; no matter their colour.
Whatever people think about the way the Black Lives Matter movement conducts itself, the basic idea is that we all get a fair deal despite our race, ethnicity, social status, religion or region etc. So those who are feeling hard done by (as many have good reason to) shouldn’t be seduced into seeing other people on the same mission to improve their lot, as rivals or enemies.
I’ll shut up now…
GH, thank you for your comments, totally agree. BLM has been demonised by the right wing media and the likes of Farage.
So great to witness tolerance and inclusivity in this community (that’s a reference to the on-line comments, not a sarcastic response to the hateful graffitti BTW!).