Beijing bars told to ban black people during Olympics

Jeremiah · 07-19-2008, 08:14 AM

GEOFFREY YORK

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

July 18, 2008 at 7:10 PM EDT

BEIJING — Chinese police officials have forced some Beijing bar owners to sign secret pledges promising to prohibit blacks from entering their bars during the Olympics next month, a Hong Kong newspaper says.

The police denied the report Friday, and most bars denied any knowledge of the pledges. But many African residents of Beijing say they are facing harassment from police and discrimination from bars as the Olympics approach.

“Bar owners near the Workers Stadium in central Beijing say they have been forced by Public Security Bureau officials to sign pledges agreeing not to let black people enter their premises,” the South China Morning Post reported Friday.

It quoted the co-owner of a bar who said that a group of police had recently visited his establishment to order it “not to serve black people or Mongolians.”
Paramilitary policemen hold the Chinese national flag in front of the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, at the Olympic Green in Beijing on Friday.
Enlarge Image

Paramilitary policemen hold the Chinese national flag in front of the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, at the Olympic Green in Beijing on Friday. (Joe Chan/Reuters)
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The Globe and Mail

In the famed Sanlitun bar district of Beijing, some bar owners have been required to sign pledges agreeing to ban a variety of activities, including dancing and serving black customers, the newspaper said.

Africans and Mongolians are often perceived as criminals in Beijing. Until this year, a number of young African men were openly selling drugs in the Sanlitun district, and many Mongolian women were working as prostitutes in the city.

Both groups are among the targets of China's security crackdown in the lead-up to the Olympics, along with thousands of Tibetans, Uyghurs, migrant workers, petitioners and social activists who are seen as potential troublemakers or protesters.

In a notorious incident last September, dozens of black people were detained by police in a raid on bars in the Sanlitun district.

Witnesses said the police rounded up all the black people they could find, up to three dozen in total, and beat some of them with rubber truncheons.

Grenada's ambassador to China filed a complaint to the Foreign Ministry, saying that his son suffered a concussion and needed hospital treatment after he was clubbed on the head by police during the raid.

Africans have been coming to Beijing for decades as university students or traders. But many were forced to leave China this year because of new visa restrictions that made it difficult to renew their paperwork.

In interviews Friday, a number of Africans said they are facing discriminatory rules from Beijing's bars and nightclubs as the Olympics approach.

A woman from Liberia, who is co-owner of a hair salon in Beijing, said she was outraged when she visited a popular Beijing nightclub and found that the entrance fee for black people was twice as high as for other foreigners.

Even if they managed to enter the club, the black patrons were prohibited from sitting at the tables, she said.

In another incident, she said, an African-owned bar was raided this week by police with dogs, and the customers were required to provide urine samples for drug tests.

“When the police come, you have to run,” she said. “I've lived in Holland and the United States and it was never like this. There's no human rights here. It's racist and it makes me feel very bad.”

If the police are now ordering bars to prohibit black people from entering, it is highly unfair, she said. “Every race has good people and bad people. You can't blame all blacks for drugs. If a person is not causing a problem, you shouldn't bother them.”

Two Nigerian businessmen said they were required to show their passports before being allowed to enter a Beijing nightclub last weekend. Black people who could not produce their passports were barred from entering the club, but other foreigners were not required to show their passports, they said.

“This had never happened before to me,” one of the Nigerians said. “I was very angry. This is racism.”

The Africans spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing more harassment from the police if they are identified. The Nigerians, interviewed at a bar, asked that the bar not be identified because they were worried that it could be raided if the police learned that Africans congregate there.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...rnational/home

Henry's Fork · 07-19-2008, 08:19 AM

Jagdtiger · 07-19-2008, 08:26 AM

what are the chinese afraid of exactly?

Kaapeli · 07-19-2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagdtiger

what are the chinese afraid of exactly?

Apparently just about everything imaginable and unimaginable.

Susumu · 07-19-2008, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagdtiger

what are the chinese afraid of exactly?

they should be of western press - they like to make up things when it comes to Olympics in China it seems.

Jagdtiger · 07-19-2008, 09:17 AM

i seriously doupt that western journalists can act in china just like they would here even though the chinese try to put up a facade of freedom and harmony

dc_b4.mc · 07-19-2008, 09:25 AM

Apparently the news is fake.

Whoever believe this artile must lack of knowledge of Chinese close diplomatic relationship with many third-world African countries and China's policies regarding on ethnics.

The article does not give the source about which Hong Kong newspaper exactly, adding to my suspicion. And many small Hong Kong newspapers are notoriously shameless considered by many Hong Kong residents in the first place.

Susumu · 07-19-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagdtiger

i seriously doupt that western journalists can act in china just like they would here

you say it like it's a bad thing...

neil1954 · 07-19-2008, 09:37 AM

Here you go happy now heres the link to the story and im not surprised that this is happening there.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...national/Asia/

Calanen · 07-19-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil1954

Here you go happy now heres the link to the story and im not surprised that this is happening there.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...national/Asia/

Neither am I. I heard some pretty adverse things about black people when I was in China from the Chinese. When I told them I lived in California, they would ask whether there were many black people being savages with guns, the whole black rapper thing etc..they were quite surprised when I said 'Er, no...'

Mousepad · 07-19-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagdtiger

what are the chinese afraid of exactly?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-F5I...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBVig...eature=related

Jagdtiger · 07-19-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susumu

you say it like it's a bad thing...

don´t get me wrong there. I´m just pointling out that china likes to control the media and direct it the way the government wants it to be
and i don´t think that there will be too much differing between a chinese and a western journalist in that matter

long live free speech

Col.O'neill · 07-19-2008, 01:48 PM

That is hilarious and wrong at the same time! Ohhh China.... lol

Vinny_121_DDS · 07-19-2008, 04:06 PM

Beijing. One world, one dream. I have real doubts about a harmonious and enjoyable olympic games when blacks aren't allowed at public venues.

CHERK · 07-19-2008, 05:11 PM

If to believe the story, is seems to me that in one particular neighborhood where blacks are known for their criminal activities the local police authorities decided to play save and prevent possible accidents involving Olympiad visitors.

By the way are there many blacks in China?

07-19-2008, 08:14 AM	#1
Jeremiah Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: usa Posts: 1,945	Beijing bars told to ban black people during Olympics GEOFFREY YORK From Saturday's Globe and Mail July 18, 2008 at 7:10 PM EDT BEIJING — Chinese police officials have forced some Beijing bar owners to sign secret pledges promising to prohibit blacks from entering their bars during the Olympics next month, a Hong Kong newspaper says. The police denied the report Friday, and most bars denied any knowledge of the pledges. But many African residents of Beijing say they are facing harassment from police and discrimination from bars as the Olympics approach. “Bar owners near the Workers Stadium in central Beijing say they have been forced by Public Security Bureau officials to sign pledges agreeing not to let black people enter their premises,” the South China Morning Post reported Friday. It quoted the co-owner of a bar who said that a group of police had recently visited his establishment to order it “not to serve black people or Mongolians.” Paramilitary policemen hold the Chinese national flag in front of the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, at the Olympic Green in Beijing on Friday. Enlarge Image Paramilitary policemen hold the Chinese national flag in front of the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, at the Olympic Green in Beijing on Friday. (Joe Chan/Reuters) Related Articles Recent * Beijing busy welcoming the world as it turns away its ethnic minorities * A jittery China awaits the Games * PM still firm on decision not to attend Olympics From the archives * IOC says it's time for China to deliver on promises * China seen as reneging on media-freedom vow The Globe and Mail In the famed Sanlitun bar district of Beijing, some bar owners have been required to sign pledges agreeing to ban a variety of activities, including dancing and serving black customers, the newspaper said. Africans and Mongolians are often perceived as criminals in Beijing. Until this year, a number of young African men were openly selling drugs in the Sanlitun district, and many Mongolian women were working as prostitutes in the city. Both groups are among the targets of China's security crackdown in the lead-up to the Olympics, along with thousands of Tibetans, Uyghurs, migrant workers, petitioners and social activists who are seen as potential troublemakers or protesters. In a notorious incident last September, dozens of black people were detained by police in a raid on bars in the Sanlitun district. Witnesses said the police rounded up all the black people they could find, up to three dozen in total, and beat some of them with rubber truncheons. Grenada's ambassador to China filed a complaint to the Foreign Ministry, saying that his son suffered a concussion and needed hospital treatment after he was clubbed on the head by police during the raid. Africans have been coming to Beijing for decades as university students or traders. But many were forced to leave China this year because of new visa restrictions that made it difficult to renew their paperwork. In interviews Friday, a number of Africans said they are facing discriminatory rules from Beijing's bars and nightclubs as the Olympics approach. A woman from Liberia, who is co-owner of a hair salon in Beijing, said she was outraged when she visited a popular Beijing nightclub and found that the entrance fee for black people was twice as high as for other foreigners. Even if they managed to enter the club, the black patrons were prohibited from sitting at the tables, she said. In another incident, she said, an African-owned bar was raided this week by police with dogs, and the customers were required to provide urine samples for drug tests. “When the police come, you have to run,” she said. “I've lived in Holland and the United States and it was never like this. There's no human rights here. It's racist and it makes me feel very bad.” If the police are now ordering bars to prohibit black people from entering, it is highly unfair, she said. “Every race has good people and bad people. You can't blame all blacks for drugs. If a person is not causing a problem, you shouldn't bother them.” Two Nigerian businessmen said they were required to show their passports before being allowed to enter a Beijing nightclub last weekend. Black people who could not produce their passports were barred from entering the club, but other foreigners were not required to show their passports, they said. “This had never happened before to me,” one of the Nigerians said. “I was very angry. This is racism.” The Africans spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing more harassment from the police if they are identified. The Nigerians, interviewed at a bar, asked that the bar not be identified because they were worried that it could be raided if the police learned that Africans congregate there. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...rnational/home

07-19-2008, 08:19 AM	#2
Henry's Fork Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: East Bay Area, California Posts: 1,768

07-19-2008, 08:26 AM	#3
Jagdtiger Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 449	what are the chinese afraid of exactly?

07-19-2008, 09:17 AM	#6
Jagdtiger Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 449	i seriously doupt that western journalists can act in china just like they would here even though the chinese try to put up a facade of freedom and harmony

07-19-2008, 09:25 AM	#7
dc_b4.mc Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Syd OZ Posts: 172	Apparently the news is fake. Whoever believe this artile must lack of knowledge of Chinese close diplomatic relationship with many third-world African countries and China's policies regarding on ethnics. The article does not give the source about which Hong Kong newspaper exactly, adding to my suspicion. And many small Hong Kong newspapers are notoriously shameless considered by many Hong Kong residents in the first place.

07-19-2008, 09:37 AM	#9
neil1954 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 126	Here you go happy now heres the link to the story and im not surprised that this is happening there. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...national/Asia/

07-19-2008, 01:48 PM	#13
Col.O'neill Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada Age: 22 Posts: 321	That is hilarious and wrong at the same time! Ohhh China.... lol

07-19-2008, 04:06 PM	#14
Vinny_121_DDS Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ont. Age: 27 Posts: 3,868	Beijing. One world, one dream. I have real doubts about a harmonious and enjoyable olympic games when blacks aren't allowed at public venues.

07-19-2008, 05:11 PM	#15
CHERK Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 860	If to believe the story, is seems to me that in one particular neighborhood where blacks are known for their criminal activities the local police authorities decided to play save and prevent possible accidents involving Olympiad visitors. By the way are there many blacks in China?