Why we have to continue our fight to call out social media abuse - the YEP says

Today we publish some of the hateful comments made against the city’s Gypsy and Traveller communities in Leeds in recent weeks.

One woman told us: “I’ve seen comments about how people want to burn us all to death, how they want to drop boiling water on us or how they hope coronavirus kills us all.”

And Susanne, not her real name, told us about the impact these disgusting comments have on her - the sense of feeling degraded and like she’s a failure.

Today Leeds GATE, which works to improve the quality of life for Gypsies and Travellers, has backed our Call It Out campaign which is aimed to stem online abuse.

They are urging people to consider the way they think and speak and to consider whether their language would be acceptable if directed towards any other ethnic minority group.

It’s disappointing to see this level of vitriol but highlights why it’s so important to Call It Out.

The Yorkshire Evening Post's Call It Out campaign is asking readers to help play their part in making social media platforms into a better place for us all by reporting abusive online behaviour. For more details about how to support our campaign click here.

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