• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

UK

Penally: Homophobic attacks for welcoming asylum seekers

Penally: Homophobic attacks for welcoming asylum seekers
Newsexplored
11th October 2020
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
4
Joshua BeynonImage copyright Joshua Beynon
Image caption Mr Beynon says no one in public life should have to put up with personal attacks

A councillor who welcomed asylum seekers has been called a paedophile by online abusers and told his partner will be raped.

Protests have been held outside a military training camp in Penally, Pembrokeshire where asylum seekers are being housed.

Joshua Beynon, 23, who is gay, has reported 30-40 people to the police after homophobic comments and abuse online in response to his support.

“It’s quite scary at times,” he said.

Pembrokeshire council has condemned online abuse directed at councillors, individuals and charities who have supported asylum seekers at the controversial camp.

Mr Beynon, who was elected in 2017 and is one of the youngest councillors in Wales, said most of the abuse had come after he criticised racism online.

“People think they can say things online, that they would never ever dream of saying to your face,” said Mr Beynon.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionThe asylum seekers said they loved the UK and the people who saved their lives, but the accommodation was “not suitable”

The Pembroke Dock councillor said he had received homophobic comments in the past on social media, but it intensified when he campaigned to get County Hall in Haverfordwest lit up in support of the Black Lives Matters movement.

data-ad-format="auto">

But Mr Beynon, a Labour councillor, said the abuse had been far worse since he posted online supporting the refugees and challenged “horrendous racism”.

Protests have been held over the Home Office’s decision to house up to 250 people at the army training centre, which has been described as a target for “hard-right extremist” protestors.

Warning: This story contains offensive language

Image caption Protests and counter-protests have been held over the camp near Tenby

After posting a picture on Facebook of him with other community members hanging welcome messages on the gates of the camp, Mr Beynon received homophobic abuse.

“They’ve called me a nonce, a faggot, there’s been loads and loads of stuff like that,” he said, adding he had also been called a “gremlin”, “snowflake”, “muppet” and “Judas”.


“There are some which are out of this world, someone said I was funded by the big media, some saying I was a paedophile, I don’t know where this stuff comes from,” he added.

In one post, a woman wrote: “How much is he paying them people too do that, plus he’s got more faces than the town clock and he’s a nonce…should not be a cllr he’s a Paedophile and most people now that makes me sick.”

In another comment, one person said: “Wait till they rape his children and his wife”, to which someone responded “or his husband”.

Image caption First Minister Mark Drakeford said the camp had become a target for extremists

“There’s been stuff that’s been quite intimidating,” said Mr Beynon, who said some of the messages had been from people who lived hundreds of miles away.

“I’ve had to ask the council’s monitoring officer if I can have my address removed from my register of interests on the council website on a temporary basis. Just to make sure that nothing happens to me or anyone I live with.”

  • Traffic wardens ‘driven at deliberately’ in council attacks
  • Safety fears over social media threats to councillors

Some locals have protested against the camp, saying while they welcome asylum seekers, the facility is not suitable to house people fleeing persecution.

“I understand people do have genuine concerns who live in the local area, but I strongly object to these really racist remarks that they automatically assume that they are murderers, or rapists or thieves, there is no proof of that, it’s just stirring up hatred online,” Mr Beynon said.

“If you call it out, then you get personal attacks about you.”

Mr Beynon said he had reported 30 to 40 people for comments to the police and had sought advice from lawyers.

“These actions are criminal, and I think people need to realise that they can’t sit behind a keyboard, and say what they want, and get away with it,” he said, adding many people had defended him on social media.

“I’m more than happy to debate with people, and have people say they disagree with me, but you don’t have to say because “you’re gay”,” he added.

Image copyright Screen grab
Image caption Mr Beynon’s post welcoming refugees had over 1,000 comments, with some including homophobic comments

Mr Beynon said that he feared trolling, racism and homophobia, would put others off standing from election, and prevent diverse candidates from entering politics.

The most recent survey of county councillors in Wales, carried out after the 2017 elections but with a low response rate, suggested 98% were white, 72% over the age of 50, 67% were male, and 93% were heterosexual.

Under changes, aimed at increasing diversity in Welsh politics ahead of the 2022 council elections, the Welsh Government said it was looking at measures to “ensure councillors and their families are safe when undertaking their duties”.

‘Attacked for serving community’

Pembrokeshire council leader David Simpson added: “Pembrokeshire has a proud history of tolerance and respect.

“Racism and homophobia has no place in society and we cannot condone this unacceptable behaviour.”

The Welsh Local Government Association said it was supporting Mr Beynon, adding that councillors were “ordinary everyday people trying to make a difference in their communities”.

A spokesman said: “Whilst debate is welcomed, they should not have to tolerate any sort of abuse or vitriol for doing their duties.

“We want to attract diverse people from all backgrounds to stand in local elections.

“Nobody should feel discouraged from wanting to represent their communities by the intimidatory actions of a few. This behaviour will not be tolerated and action will be taken wherever necessary.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemsasylumattackshomophobicpenallyseekerswelcoming
UK
11th October 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemsasylumattackshomophobicpenallyseekerswelcoming

More in UK

  • Read More
    Oxford Street: Wooing shoppers back to Europe’s busiest high street

    Views:4 By Rebecca CafeBBC News “Let’s change the way we shop.” This is the statement emblazoned in...

    Newsexplored 11th October 2020
  • Read More
    Newspaper headlines: Harry ‘arrives in UK’, and ‘shutters come up’

    Views:4 By BBC NewsStaff image captionThe death of the Duke of Edinburgh at the age of 99...

    Newsexplored 11th October 2020
  • Read More
    Gyms re-opening: ‘Everyone’s raring to go – but take it slow’

    Views:4 By Michael BaggsNewsbeat reporter Published 1 hour ago The gains. The pump. The changing room selfie....

    Newsexplored 11th October 2020
  • Read More
    Newspaper headlines: Duke missed ‘enormously’ as funeral plans released

    Views:4 By BBC NewsStaff image captionSunday’s papers are dominated by the Prince of Wales’ tribute to his...

    Newsexplored 11th October 2020
  • Read More
    NI riots: Fourteen police hurt in another night of violence

    Views:4 Published 1 hour ago image captionPolice kept rioters from loyalist and nationalist areas in Belfast apart...

    Newsexplored 11th October 2020
  • Read More
    Rachael Blackmore makes Grand National history

    Views:4 Blackmore was riding in the Grand National for the third time Rachael Blackmore made sporting history...

    Newsexplored 11th October 2020
  • Read More
    Prince Philip: Queen ‘has been amazing’, says Countess of Wessex

    Views:4 media captionThe Earl and Countess of Wessex spent about an hour at Windsor Castle on Saturday...

    Newsexplored 11th October 2020
  • Read More
    Newspaper headlines: Tributes to ‘beloved’ Prince Philip after a ‘life of duty’

    Views:4 By BBC NewsStaff image captionThe death of the Duke of Edinburgh dominates Saturday’s papers, with many...

    Newsexplored 11th October 2020
  • Read More
    Prince Philip: Royal-watchers’ ‘loss’ at Duke of Edinburgh’s death

    Views:4 Published 1 hour ago media captionPeople have been gathering outside gates on the Sandringham Estate to...

    Newsexplored 11th October 2020
  • Read More
    Prince Philip: Northern Ireland pays tribute

    Views:4 image copyrightPAcemaker image captionThe Duke of Edinburgh on a visit to Harland and Wolff in July...

    Newsexplored 11th October 2020
  • Read More
    Aintree holds silence in tribute to Philip

    Views:4 Flags were flown at half-mast across the country to pay tribute to Prince Philip A two-minute...

    Newsexplored 11th October 2020
  • Read More
    Prince Philip: The Duke of Edinburgh and Wales in light and dark times

    Views:4 media captionA look back at Prince Philip’s legacy in Wales Whenever the Duke of Edinburgh visited...

    Newsexplored 11th October 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • The UK professor and the fake Russian agent
    UK26th March 2021
  • Atlanta spa shootings: How we talk about violence
    USA19th March 2021
  • Deshaun Watson: Houston Texans quarterback being investigated by police amid 21 civil lawsuits
    USA3rd April 2021
  • Arsenal 0-3 Liverpool: Diogo Jota scores twice in Premier League win
    Sports3rd April 2021
  • Tiger Woods car crash: Golfing great drove at almost double the speed limit
    USA7th April 2021
  • Georgia voting: Fact-checking claims about the new election law
    USA7th April 2021
  • Deshaun Watson: Houston Texans quarterback being investigated by police amid 21 civil lawsuits
    USA3rd April 2021
  • Derek Chauvin trial: Why role of TV cameras could come into focus
    USA28th March 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

The Papers: PM dubbed ‘new Maggie’ amid ‘lockdown revolt’
Covid: BAME people’s mental health ‘forgotten about’
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok