The new Lord Mayor of Dublin did not pull punches when she clapped back at a politician’s racist tweet after winning the 2020 general election in Ireland.
Claps Back at Racist tweet: Hazel Chu used humor to call out National Party member Rebecca Barrett for her racism last week, according to the Irish Post.
- The incident started after Chu tweeted that she was still up watching the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Dublin Live reported.
Trying to tell myself to go to bed since there’s still morning meetings no matter who becomes the next US President.
We’ve been both telling each other that for hours now. This is what happens when two political nerds live together.#USAElections2020
— Hazel Chu (@hazechu) November 4, 2020
- Barrett, the wife of National Party leader Justin Barrett, replied to Chu’s thread with a racist, now-deleted message, saying, “Justin and I are still up too, Hazel. And we’re getting hungry. Since you’re up anyway, we’ll have a sweet and sour chicken, a Szechuan beef and 2 fried rice, please. No bat.”
- The tweet did not go unnoticed as Chu, who was born in Ireland to immigrant parents from Hong Kong, called Barrett out.
- “I’d love to Rebecca but I called my mam to put your order in and sadly she said we don’t serve racists or trolls,” the Green Party member wrote. “It’s nice you like our cooking so do come back again to try and order when you’ve learned some manners. Good that you decided to lay off the bats though. Best-Hazel.”
I’d love to Rebecca but I called my mam to put your order in and sadly she said we don’t serve racists or trolls.
It’s nice you like our cooking so do come back again to try and order when you’ve learned some manners. Good that you decided to lay off the bats though. Best-Hazel pic.twitter.com/0NHW438R3C
— Hazel Chu (@hazechu) November 4, 2020
The aftermath: Chu posted a follow-up Twitter thread to encourage others to stand up against racism.
not to call you out on it. I spent years just ignoring racists but they’re still around.
2) On screenshots/retweets of the offending stuff, be led by person targeted. Again its not about giving trolls oxygen, its about calling them out. Saying ‘we will not stand for racism!’
2/6— Hazel Chu (@hazechu) November 4, 2020
but there is a minority of people that are very loud & vocal-tapping into people’s genuine fears in a pandemic. Challenge their dog whistling & the misinformation they spread on people not belonging. Ireland belongs to us all regardless of background or nationality after all
4/6
— Hazel Chu (@hazechu) November 4, 2020
grow up to be able to look in the mirror & not wish she was a different skin colour. I want her & us all to celebrate our differences not be divided by them. Now more than ever we need unity! It’s why my next step is setting a new integration strategy for Dublin.
Thank you all x
— Hazel Chu (@hazechu) November 4, 2020
- Barrett’s inbox was flooded with hate mail. “If these people hate you, you can be pretty sure you’re on the right side,” she said.
Here’s a look at some of the DMs I’ve been getting over the last few days. If these people hate you, you can be pretty sure you’re on the right side. 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/y4PY7bXPE5
— Rebecca Barrett (@RebBarrettNP) November 6, 2020
- Barrett claimed that Twitter took down her tweet.
It was taken down by twitter because of mass reporting. Tell me exactly what was racist in my tweet. I’ll wait.
— Rebecca Barrett (@RebBarrettNP) November 8, 2020
- A screenshot of Twitter’s response in the original thread showed that Barrett did violate rules against abuse and harassment.
And for those who asked why… pic.twitter.com/GTOHRjfi1z
— Mary-Lou Mc Carthy (@MaryLoumccarthy) November 5, 2020
Featured Image Screenshot via @EPICMuseumCHQ (left),
