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‘All Lives Matter’ banner stirs social media storm

AN All Lives Matter banner that was put up at the Old Sailors’ pub and restaurant at Swakopmund has stirred a social media storm.

The banner, that was put up outside the pub this week, has since been removed on Thursday following accusations of racism from some social media users in light of the global Black Lives Matter movement.

Old Sailors is a huge promoter of Namibian beer. However, after a post from social media activist Omar van Reenen’s that the banner was racist, Namibia Breweries Limited distanced itself from message on the banner via a tweet yesterday..

“NBL categorically distances itself from this message as it deviates from our group vision to be a catalyst for positive change, creating new realities, and fulfilling dreams,” the Tweet from the company read.

Van Reenen (23), who this week called for the boycott of the business, said the owner of the pub Andy Thomson was promoting racist and colonial sentiments, praising colonial oppressors, and proudly hanging multiple nooses that can be misinterpreted that “black people are not fully human”.

“These are serious acts of blatant racism and hatred towards the black existence. Our country was founded on the backs of colonised, enslaved, murdered, segregated and oppressed black and brown people. It is absolutely horrifying and disgusting,” said Van Reenen, receiving mixed reaction – support and opposition, with some social media users saying it was freedom of expression while others agreed it carried a racist connotation.

Contacted for comment on Friday, Thomson said he had something different in mind than the reaction he received from social media activists when he put up the banner outside his business. He said the message was misinterpreted.

“We are a rainbow nation. The ‘Black Lives Matter’ started in America. My intention was not political whatsoever; it has to do with our current lockdown situation and the enormous economical predicament we are in, and our need for support – that we also need support; we also matter,” explained Thomson, adding that the nooses an other decorations at his pub were in the context of sailors.

“I am sorry that there are those who do not understand [the message]. That is why I removed it,” he said.

He further explained that to him ‘All Lives Matter’ refers to the support local businesses need from local customers and government to survive in what is becoming an economic depression of uncertain proportions where all lives in the country will be detrimentally affected.

‘#BlackLivesMatter’ was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer in the United States. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organisation in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.

By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives, according to its website.

The movement regained attention after the murder of George Floyd at the knee of a police officer on 25 May in the USA.

Floyd’s iconic last words were “I can’t breathe”, after he died of suffocation after it was alleged that he transacted a counterfeit US$20 note at a shop.

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