‘Charlottesville is what happens if you don’t take this seriously’
● Racist in court after refusing to be treated by non-white optician
A racist refused to be treated by an optician in the wake of the Manchester bombing because she was not white – leading to a rebuke from a sheriff who told him: “Charlottesville is what happens if you don’t take this kind of thing seriously.”
Eric Greene, 58, of Carluke, Lanarkshire, had gone to a Specsavers store in Lanark when he was asked by an employee to join her at her desk.
The appointment was two days after the Manchester Arena bombing of 22 May that saw 22 people killed at an Ariana Grande concert.
Trainee optician Sarah Kerr noticed Greene looked hesitant before he told her: “I don’t mean to sound impersonal but I’d rather be seen by a white person.”
Greene pulled down his T-shirt to show he was wearing a Star of David necklace and added: “I’m sorry but Manchester was the last straw for me.”
Staff overheard the outburst and asked him to leave before police were called and Greene was arrested.
When interviewed, he repeated that Manchester was the last straw for him and told police he had family staying there.
Greene admitted a racist breach of the peace at Lanark Sheriff Court.
Depute fiscal Ziad Hassan said: “The complainer is of Indian and Pakistani origin but British born, and is employed in the store as a trainee.
“She asked him to join her at her desk and she would book him in as is standard procedure. She noted he appeared hesitant but eventually he came and sat down.
“The accused asked her if she would be his optician for the day but she explained she would only be booking him in.
“He then stated, ‘I’m sorry to be impersonal but I’d rather be seen by a white person’.”
Sheriff Nikola Stewart said: “I think everybody in this courtroom is shocked by that utterly bigoted and prejudicial narration.
“What is at the root of these views? We have to look deeper into why this gentleman would make these type of comments. Charlottesville is what happens if you don’t take this kind of thing seriously. I’m calling for reports because I need to understand what lies at the root of this.
“Prejudice is a cancer which eats away at society and stops it being a place in which we feel safe.” Sentence was deferred.
Violent clashes erupted between white nationalists attending a far-right march and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia.