Facebook 'Kick a Ginger' campaign prompts attacks on redheads

The Telegraph, London, UK ^ | 2008-11-23 | Matthew Moore

[rabscuttle385]

The teenager behind a "Kick a Ginger" group on Facebook is being investigated by police after reports of attacks on redhead children.

Nearly 5,000 people joined the online campaign which urged members to "get them steel toes ready" for a day of booting this week.

The website appears to have been inspired by a recent episode of the cartoon South Park, in which a young character called Cartman describes people with red hair as evil and soulless.

Dozens of children left messages on the page claiming to have carried out attacks on "National Kick a Ginger Day" on Thursday, and a girl in Alberta, Canada claimed that she and her 13-year-old sister were punched and kicked by pupils at their school.

The 14-year-old boy from Vancouver who ran the Facebook group has apologised and insisted that it was only meant as a joke, but the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has launched an investigation and warned that those involved could face charges.

"We do treat this sort of thing seriously," a police spokeswoman told the Vancouver Sun newspaper. "This is sort of inciting hate. It's a hate crime, really."

[Tijeras_Slim]

Some muggle is in for a rude shock.

[basil]

This lifelong “Ginger” is armed and waiting for someone to pull this sh#t on me, my redheaded daughters, or redheaded grandkids.......

[fanfan]

Thanks for the ping, rabscuttle385.

[Tax-chick]

*snicker*

[hinckley buzzard]

All Bud Lite commercials are annoying and have been for the last twenty years or so.

[misharu]

WOO WOO! As a fellow natural redhead, I say the same!! Come try to kick me and I will unleash a big bad can o’whoopa$$!!

[Clemenza]

We really need a “kick a HIPSTER” movement so that those whiny little cow tipper transplants can be chased out of Brooklyn.

[MathDoc]

[LiberConservative]

Ginger. Definitely Ginger.

[martin_fierro]

Kick away.

[television is just wrong]

Red heads are HOT!

[ccmay]

Kick a ginger? No thanks, I'd much rather hit them.

[SouthTexas]

Better watch out this week.

[pbmaltzman]

Yikes. Is that a woman, or is that a transsexual?

[Salamander]

“... Cartman describes people with red hair as evil and soulless ...”

Actually we are, therefore, kicking us is a really, *really* bad idea.

[Don W]

Gillian is MINE! Ya HEAR ME!?!?

[ME-262]

"kick a ginger"?

If the 14 year old kid turns out to be dyslexic they'll charge him with the maximum hate crime possible. For going after the one race which can not be teased.

[Salamander]

Yes.

It should.

[Uber alles!]

[smokingfrog]

You wanna see somethin' kick?

[retrokitten]

They sure are! LOLOLOLOL

P.S. I’m a bottle redhead and I’m almost 6 feet tall. I dare someone to kick me.