I am an eyewitness to events which took place on 5th September 2012 on Rye Lane. I have firsthand knowledge of the incident. A young black man returned to collect his ?70 balance for the faulty blackberry playbook he returned; as advised by Khan. During the discussion, Khan laughed in his face, told him he wasn't going to get his money back, called him a 'black bastard' and threw his hot cup of tea in the young man's face. The young man defended himself. CCTV footage on Rye Lane and at Peckham Rye Station captured the incident. It shows Khan and over 20 shopkeepers /employees armed, chasing the young man and a friend across Rye Lane into the train station to assault them. Many eye witnesses were injured at the station as the 'gang' threw bottles, broomsticks, glasses etc towards the young men. They also threatened women who tried to intervene in the presence of children. The young men defended themselves and tried to prevent them from getting through the barriers to chase them onto railway track. The young man's parents were contacted by eye witnesses. I spoke to the young man?s parents when they arrived at Khan?s mobile accessories. The parents approached Khan to clarify what had happened. Khan shouted that he would SHOOT both parents and SHOOT their son if he returned to the shop. This was done in the presence of two uniformed Police officers. This incident is now subject to police investigation. The young man clearly does not fit Khan?s racial stereotyping. Bystanders advised that the young man is an undergraduate. He works with disabled young adults, children and is a carer for disabled adults. Witnesses to this incident were so outraged that they started the campaign to stop this type of discriminatory practices by Khan owned businesses (including Khan?s Bargains stores) and other Rye Lane shopkeepers. From the demonstrations, various firsthand accounts of similar attacks include assaults on young black women, black middle aged women, young black men, elderly black men and 1 white man. These businesses are clearly flouting Trading Standard Laws. I was at the initial protest and saw the placard which was offensive. This was immediately redressed by the campaigners and the father of the young man. The placard was destroyed. Let?s be honest, the campaigners were mainly middle aged women, some elderly and a few middle aged men. Two of them were wheelchair users. For them to come out on a Saturday and demonstrate, there must be a bigger picture. Do not be racist by condoning the actions of the shopkeepers. Do not be racist and na?ve by assuming that the young man fits a racial profiling stereotype, therefore he must have done something wrong. Don't be naive by assuming KHAN CAN'T BE RACIST; he is running a business. The shopkeepers views on Black people are common knowledge in their discriminatory treatment with regard legitimate refunds. All consumers should be treated with respect. You don?t have to like someone to be respectful in business transactions. How would you feel if someone who you knew experienced this vigilante behaviour, which is commonplace and illegal?
