25 signatures reached
To: BBC Executive Committee
Do not renew Geoffrey Boycott's employment contract for his recent racist comment
Take disciplinary action against cricket commentator Geoffrey Boycott for saying at a recent event in Edgbaston that the only way he could get a knighthood would be if he "blacked himself up" ie West Indian cricketers get knighthoods more easily than white people.
Why is this important?
We need to challenge casual racism, especially from respected figures, such as Geoffrey Boycott. Such attempts at humour, no matter where the offence takes place, undermine efforts to create a more equal society, in which respect is due to all. The BBC should apply its equality policies consistently, irrespective of how long a person has worked for them. The Black and White Minstrel Show, in which white performers appeared with blacked out faces, ended in 1978, because it was felt to be offensive and inconsistent with British values then. The BBC Code of Conduct states in Part 1.3 Treating everyone equally "We don’t tolerate discrimination of any kind, and we speak up when we see it. We’ll take disciplinary action against anyone who crosses the line, including firing them for gross misconduct, if it’s serious."
