LEGEND SAM’S FURY AT ANTI-BLM VANDALS
FORMER Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton has condemned the vandalising of Black Lives Matter T-shirts in the city suburb where he grew up.
In a post on his Instagram page, he said he had been hesitant to speak out on “controversial topics such as politics”, but felt compelled to comment after three T-shirts placed on an artwork on the wall of a church in Rhiwbina were ripped down, defaced and covered in dog faeces.
Stating that he felt very strongly about the Black Lives Matter movement, Warburton explained how he could not even fathom the idea of judging someone on the colour of their skin – adding that the vandalism in the suburb he has lived in his whole life left him “disgusted”.
“I’ve told myself I’d stay away from controversial topics such as politics, for example, as people can feel very strongly about what party they support,” Warburton wrote.
“However, the #BlackLivesMatter topic is something I feel VERY strongly about. I’m disgusted to hear that in Rhiwbina, the village that I live and have grown up my whole life, the T-shirt in the picture above was ripped down and vandalised in a way I don’t want to elaborate on here.
“The fact someone would judge someone anywhere in the world on the colour of their skin absolutely baffles me.
“To me it implies a serious lack of intelligence and high levels of stupidity. I literally cannot even fathom the idea.
“There is only one human race. When discussing this topic with my family recently the only answer my dad had was ‘Hitler and Stalin were white.’
“Don’t be so stupid to think that because you’re white you have a godgiven right over other people.
“The two names mentioned above caused millions and millions of deaths to innocent people for what?
“It’s challenges like global warming, poverty and disease we should be focusing on so we can rest assured that the generations to follow our footsteps can live a happy healthy life in this world for 1000’s of years to come.
“As a sportsperson you’re often told to be a diplomat, sit on the fence to avoid controversy but for years when discussing and hearing about racism I feel like doing my part.”
Police are investigating the defacing of the T-shirts, placed upon the lifesize Jesus artwork that adorns the wall of the Beulah Church on Beulah Road.
Local artist Jo Jones designed the artwork and decorates it with a T-shirt depending on the time of year or to reflect world events.
The wall art had never been vandalised in the 10 years it has been there, but when Jo placed a T-shirt with the slogan “Black Lives Matter” following protests in America and the UK following the death of George Floyd on June 9, it was ripped down and stuffed behind traffic lights.
On a second T-shirt, someone replaced the word “black” with “all”.
And a third T-shirt featuring a figure kneeling was later found draped over a signpost nearby daubed in dog faeces.
A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said: “Criminal damage at Beulah Community Centre was reported Tuesday and officers have carried out enquiries.”