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Marian Cunnington was unfairly dismissed from her job at Sainsbury's after making a Black Lives Matter comment about BBC character Bing. (Facebook/BBC/PA)

A supermarket worker with 28 years of experience was unfairly sacked from Sainsburys after she made a comment about the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

A complaint was made against Marian Cunnington, 52, after she picked up a cuddly toy of BBC childrens character Bing, a black rabbit, and said: Should we really be selling this toy? Black Lives Matter.

She was suspended from her job later that day, an employment tribunal heard, before being sacked a month later.

The Daily Mirror reported that Cunnington, who had won awards for her work as a price controller at the Sainsburys store in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, was unfairly dismissed for gross misconduct after a colleague complained her remark was racist.

Supermarket worker Marian Cunnington made a Black Lives Matter comment about a cuddly toy of children's TV character Bing. (BBC)

The incident happened in June last year at the height of Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests following the murder of George Floyd in the US.

Cunnington was carrying out price changes in an aisle when she saw the Bing toy.

She told Birmingham Employment Tribunal she thought the toy could be offensive to Black people in the same way as the banned Robertsons jam mascot.

The colleague who complained said she heard Cunnington say: Im offended Black Lives Matter.

After being suspended, Cunnington later told her bosses in a meeting: I was actually standing up for BLM.

But she was sacked on 2 July last year and her appeal against the decision was also turned down, it was reported.

However, last month, Judge Richardson said the Sainsburys operations manager who sacked her could not explain what was offensive about the words, Im offended Black Lives Matter.

The judge said sensitivities were heightened at the time of the incident because of the BLM protests in the US and the UK.

He said: It is all the more reason to take great care that proper procedures are followed thoroughly, objectively and fairly so that justice can be done.

Marian Cunnington has since found work with Marks & Spencer. (Facebook)

Given the size and resources of [Sainsburys], the fact that so many fundamental procedural errors were made is unacceptable.

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In summary, the decision to dismiss was not well founded and is unfair.

Cunnington has since found work with Marks & Spencer.

She told the Mirror: Im not a racist and Im a really good worker. When I was summarily dismissed I was in disbelief.

It was very hard but then I knew that I hadnt said anything racist.

Obviously I have made a lot of friends in my team and none of them believed I had done anything wrong.

Yahoo News UK has contacted Sainsburys to ask for comment.

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Sainsburys worker unfairly sacked over Black Lives Matter comment about Bing toy - Yahoo News

For Joanne Barber, a second grade teacher at Crestwood Elementary School in Kent, last years Black Lives Matter protests presented an opportunity for her to teach more about race.

I am willing to be that teacher that has those hard conversations, she said. I would be doing a huge disservice to my students if I didnt give them information that they could see themselves in.

For Barber, teaching students about racial history is just as important as reading or math.

Her class starts with defining social justice and talking about slavery, which led to institutional racism and implicit bias. Barber also weaves race and equity into every subject. Whether its learning about scientists or mathematicians of color, sharing social justice factsor reading about civil rights movements, every day in her class is filled with race education. She also provides resources and other useful information for her students families in case students have any questions.

This approach to teaching is something Barber frequently talks about with her colleagues around the Kent School District. Shesaid the teachers often discuss how to help kids navigate difficult conversations and push through discomfort in discussing race.

One of her friends, Manuel Cadenas, a teacher at Kent-Meridian High School, saidhe tries to lead class discussions with honesty.

I hope to keep it real. Like the scholars, I need a break from keeping it together, he said in an email.

While teachers arent required to discuss racial equity, specifically, they can still choose to include the history of race or social justice in their own classrooms. The Washington State Board of Education recently announced plans to add an ethnic studies graduation requirement.

Bethany Spinler, the principal ofBellevue Big Picture School, said she is unsure if there are required teaching standards on race.

Although teachers aren't required to teach about race and equity in their classes, they do go through mandatory diversity training, which covers implicit bias, anti-discrimination, inclusion and cultural responsiveness. In the Bellevue School District, teachers are required to attend one full day of training every three years, according to the teachers unions collective bargaining agreement.

Some local school districts have takenadditional steps to bring in more equity-related topics in other classes like science, English and history.

In Bellevue, we have been working very hard in grades 5, 8 and 11 to de-center the traditional white perspective and to center the voices of people of color, said Patricia Shelton, a curriculum developer in the Bellevue School District.

Link:
How BLM protests changed teaching in King County schools - Crosscut

Ahead of the Games in Tokyo, people have shared misleading social media posts claiming Japan has banned Black Lives Matter apparel at the Olympics.

The opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo is just weeks away after being delayed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For most of the athletes competing, its the biggest stage of their professional sporting careers.

Over the past few months, posts onFacebook andTwitter have made the following claim: Japan has banned all BLM apparel from the Olympics. NO ONE can kneel/raise fists during the anthems. Two Facebook posts in May with the claim have been shared59,000 and67,000 times. Posts continue to be made through June with the same claim and wereshared thousands of times.

THE QUESTION

Did Japan ban Black Lives Matter apparel and kneeling during anthems?

THE SOURCES

THE ANSWER

No, Japan did not ban Black Lives Matter apparel and kneeling during anthems. Its the International Olympic Committee that sets those rules.

WHAT WE FOUND

The Olympics are governed by theOlympic Charter, a set of rules and guidelines established by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that everyone involved in the Games, from host countries to athletes and fans, agree to follow within the Olympic venue.

The social media posts appear to referenceRule 50 of the charter, which governs neutrality by stating, No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.

The rule not only applies to what athletes say but what they wear as well. It also includes, Gestures of a political nature, like a hand gesture or kneeling, according to the IOC.

Team USA tells its athletes that Rule 50 ensures the Games remain free from demonstrations and political, religious, and racial propaganda.

On July 2, the IOC revised some of its guidelines related to Rule 50, which gives athletes more opportunities to express themselves, most notably on the field of play prior to the start of the competition, such as when they or their team is being introduced. The form of expression must not target people, countries, organizations or be disruptive. Athletes can also express their views during press conferences, interviews and on social media.

Demonstrations are still banned during competitions, official ceremonies and in the Olympic Village. Official ceremonies include medal ceremonies and the opening and closing ceremonies. So, expressions are still not allowed while anthems are played during ceremonies.

The penalties for not following the IOCs rules vary. The IOC says it will take action on any violations on a case-by-case basis.

The changes made weeks before the Tokyo Games came after the IOC upheld Rule 50 in April, saying amajority of athletes responding to a survey said they thought it was not appropriate to demonstrate or express their views while on the field of play, at official ceremonies or on the podium.

Rules limiting demonstrations at the Olympics have been around for decades. VERIFY researchers found a ban on demonstrations as part of the Olympic Charter dating back to the 1950s. The1955 Olympic Charter states countries who invite the IOC to host the upcoming Games must state that no political demonstrations will be held in the stadium or other sport grounds, or in the Olympic Village, during the Games, and that it is not the intention to use the Games for any other purpose than for the advancement of the Olympic Movement.

Our journalists work to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false online. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter, text alerts and our YouTube channel. You can also follow us on Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

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VERIFY: No, Japan isnt banning Black Lives Matter apparel during anthems at the Olympics. That's an IOC decision - WUSA9.com

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is launching a group exhibition this month in the Arlene Schnitzer Gallery featuring artwork generated by recipients of the museums Black Lives Artist Grant Program awards.

Focusing on social justice themes such as marginalized communities, systemic racism and inequality, original artwork created by 20 emerging young artists from Ashland, Bend and the Eugene area, including several by UO students, will be on display. The artwork represents a range of mediums, from drawings, paintings, video and performance to photography, installations, sculpture and digital art.

There is a vitality and urgency to the works well be presenting, and a wide range of moods, visual strategies and voices, said John Weber, executive director of the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. We are gratified to be presenting these artists and this art as we continue long-term work to dismantle the legacies of white supremacy and create a more just society.

Funded by the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation, the $150,000 grant program, which included art museums supported by Jordan Schnitzer at the UO, Portland State University and Washington State University, awarded each artist a cash award of $2,500 and an opportunity to participate in an exhibition.

Partnering with the Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center, the UO museum assembled a selection panel to choose the grant winners. Panel members included Sabrina Madison-Cannon, the Phyllis and Andrew Berwick Dean in the School of Music and Dance; Jamar Bean, Multicultural Center program adviser; and Department of Art assistant professor Jovencio de la Paz.

This collaborative Black Lives Matter Artist Grant has allowed local, upcoming and seasoned artists to be activists using their craft and skills as artists, said Aris Hall, the coordinator for the Black Cultural Center who oversaw the grant selection jury. I am encouraged that this exhibition will be an opportunity to create meaningful dialogue, while also giving space for reflection and activism at a time in our countrys history in which we still have to declare that Black lives matter.

The Black Lives Matter exhibition will open to the public July 3. Pending health directives from the Oregon Health Authority and the UO pandemic incident management team, an outdoor public reception is planned for July 8 from 5 to 7 p.m.

By Sharleen Nelson, University Communications

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New exhibit highlights work by Black Lives Matter artists - AroundtheO

More people have a favorable view of the police and law enforcement agencies than the Black Lives Matter movement, according to a national poll.

Sixty-nine percent have either a very favorable view or a favorable view of the police, a poll conducted by Harvard University's Center for American Political Studies showed. The Black Lives Matter movement garnered favorability of 45%, with 39% saying they had an unfavorable or very unfavorable view.

Topping the list of the institutions with high favorability was the U.S. military at 78%, then Amazon at 72%, and the FBI at 60%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had 58% favorability.

REPUBLICAN SENATORS IN PENNSYLVANIA BRIEFED ON 2020 ELECTION AUDIT PLAN

People have become more trusting of political parties, as 53% approve of the Republican Party and 55% approve of the Democratic Party, the poll showed.

People were less trusting of individual politicians, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had unfavorable ratings.

President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis all had favorable ratings.

Respondents were split on the efforts of Vice President Kamala Harris, 43% favorable to 43% unfavorable.

The poll also included a question as to whether the country was on the right track under Biden, in contrast to the last few months of 2020 under Trump.

In October 2020, 64% of Republicans said the country was on the right track. That figure dropped to 34% immediately after Biden was sworn into office and declined to a low of 24% in March. It has risen to 32%.

Democrats witnessed a similar swing, with only 13% approving of the direction of the country in October 2020, doubling to 27% in January 2021. It climbed to 81% approval in June.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

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Participants were also asked whether they believed the countrys economy was on the right track. Fewer Republicans and Democrats agreed, as 29% and 71%, respectively, said it was on the right track.

The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll for Harvard between June 15 and 17 among 2,006 registered voters.

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Tags: Law Enforcement, Black Lives Matter, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Economy, Polls, Harvard University, News, Race and Diversity

Original Author: Lawrence Richard

Original Location: Police more favored than Black Lives Matter: Poll

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Police more favored than Black Lives Matter: Poll - Yahoo News