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."

[Sparky1776]

Yep!

[ExSafecracker]

If this is a Ginger vs. Maryann FreePpole, put me down for 3 votes for Maryann!! (I was registered by ACORN)

[Candor7]

How could these little A$$ Hats do such a thing?More cultural lockstep and precursor socialization towards Big Brother Society a la Brave New World.

Red haired fems are the root of all feminine beauty and wisdom, and in mythology that is true also ( Beautiful Red Haired Scathach, of the Tain Bo Cooley Irish Cycle of Mythology, trained Cuchulain in battle skills.)

South Park sometimes creates some real social problems. This is one of them.

When I was 14 , I would have stopped them from doing this.

[cripplecreek]

Never forget.

[OneWingedShark]

It’s SOUTH PARK... WTF would someone take it seriously?

[Salamander]

Say what you will about Carrot Top but whoever kicks him is in for a world of pumped-up hurt.....:)

[Mr. Jeeves]

Doesn’t ANYONE at ANY age have ANY SENSE?

Social networking sites are particularly attractive to young people with no identity of their own, who are seeking a peer group to tell them who they are. In this case, identify so strongly with an in-group that they rationalize physically attacking an out-group.

Kind of like DU and Kos posters...

[lefty-lie-spy]

Through my personal experience, the LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO is kick a full-grown Scott ginger, let alone call him a ginger, so therefore I can understand the targets being kids. I’ll pass this to a Scott ginger friend of mine for comment.

[cripplecreek]

Say what you will about Carrot Top but whoever kicks him is in for a world of pumped-up hurt.....:)

Kinda like Joe Piscapo. Really annoying but too intimidating to complain about.

[LucyT]

Someone on FR once mentioned their aunt had red hair, but she always wore a black wig.

[BerryDingle]

[Candor7]

Someone on FR once mentioned their aunt had red hair, but she always wore a black wig.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I bet she was hell on wheels when she took off her wig at night! LOL. I am not red, but it runs in my family. I have a paternal aunt and a paternal uncle, both freckled, flaiming red heads! My son had pure white hair until he was 5 and it turned blond and then brown.Thats the case with most brown hairs in my family , including me. But this aggression against red heads make s me sad.In ancient culture they were lauded.We have lost yet another little diamond. BTW, this week will be interesting. If Polarik receives threats , I hope he publishes them right here on FR!

[ThreePuttinDude]

When we have a Red Head fest here at FR, we
always seem to forget this one, my favorite Rouge Head

[dfwgator]

She was hot even in cartoon form.

[JSDude1]

This little boy (and no a 14 year old calling for this is not grown up at all) needs to be slapped by his parents and grounded for life!

[Right Wing Assault]

And then there's...

[Yaelle]

Why don't more guys think Melinda Clarke is hot? I am just a girl but I think her cat eyes are so beautiful.

[Right Wing Assault]

Chickens. Afraid to have a “Kick a Muzzl’em” day.

[ken21]

okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

[Candor7]

Anne Margaret definitely has the sultry rouge look.

I am fryin' with the heat! Whew!

LOL.