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Red-headed family forced to move after 'ginger' hate campaign
Last updated at 19:37pm on 01.06.07A family are being forced out of their home by a gang of thugs because of their red hair.
Kevin and Barbara Chapman say they and their four young children have already moved twice to avoid the taunts but at each address have been subjected to attacks.
Their windows have been smashed, the walls daubed with graffiti and their children physically assaulted in the street by other youths.
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Daniel, Ryelle and Kevin Chapman: They say they dare not go to the shops because their tormentors steal whatever they buy
In the latest incident the family returned to their third home in Newcastle upon Tyne to find the words "ginger is gay" painted on the outside of the property.
Even as the family, all of whom have red hair, discussed a move with social workers, their windows were smashed.
They are now waiting for the city council to find them yet another home.
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Kevin and Barbara Chapman, pictured here with children Daniel and Ryelle, have been driven from their home
"It started more than three years ago, when the kids started getting bullied by lads over the colour of their hair," said 49-year-old Mr Chapman.
"They've been punched and kicked and thrown over a hedge. Every time they go out these gangs get to them.
"We can't even go to the local shops which are only two minutes away. The kids get all their stuff taken off them.
"Having ginger hair, you expect people to have a bit of fun, but this is just unbelievable." Scroll down for more...
Graffiti scrawled on the Chapmans' front door
Mr Chapman reported the incidents to police but the abuse has become so bad that one son, Kevin Jnr, 11, is now being taught at home.
Mr Chapman says the boy has even tried to commit suicide. "Kevin's never even seen life yet and he's been driven to this," said the unemployed father.
"Some of the bullying is about branded trainers and clothes. I buy them what I can but truthfully the kids don't mind whether they have something with a name on."
The Chapmans, who have a ten-year-old daughter Ryelle, and sons Daniel, ten, and Jordon, 13, first moved from Walker to Newbiggin Hall to escape the prejudice.
They were forced to move again a year ago to Kenton Bar. Within weeks they were once again subjected to abuse.
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Daniel, nine (back), Ryelle, 10 (right), and Kevin, 11
"There seem to be around ten or 12 families who have relations in the different areas we have been," said Mr Chapman. "Word seems to get around and it starts again."
The children have changed schools three times in the last two years. "Every time we make new friends we end up getting bullied whenever we leave the house," said Ryelle.
Mrs Chapman, 44, said: "Wherever they go they get called "ginger nut, ginger bastard, ginger c***", it's disgusting."
A Newcastle City Council spokesman said: "We will do all we can to help the family."
Reader views (13)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
I hate that everyone seems to know that it's wrong but still there's majority who hates it, tolerates or at least quietly sides with the haters. My childhood was hell because of red hair I was almost driven to commit suicide myself. I got some friends back then but two of them later in life told me that one of them thought that red hair people are ALL nervous, verbally aggressive and obnoxious (well I was like that because I was bullied around all the time and even my parent won't be able to protect me all the time). The second one thought (both when we was just kids) I was just plain weird because I was pale and never spending much time on the direct sun. I always wore a t-shirt when I was swimming to avoid the sun-burns. It was a blow from my best friends (at age about twenty( to hear that they thought it about me for such a long time. Now I'm happy being red headed and guys are just crazy for my hair (hehe) and find me pretty attractive. Mostly because they think that it means I'm more energic and impulsive which is ironically also a false belief as I grown to be a calm person and I was lucky to get myself out of that psychological hell of my childhood. Now I'm strengthened by that but I still remember it. If I was about to see some child bullying a one with red hair I believe I'd lose it anyway (in all the other bully cases I'd just protect the kid) because it's still so fresh injustice. Don't know if you understand but anyway..
- Smartk8, Praha, Czech Republic
This is all nonsense. Ginger haired people are as normal and have as many rights as anyone else. Plus your probably just jealous, I'm not ginger, I have a friend who is and I am dead jealous! What has happened is cruel!
- Anonamous, a place
I lived in the UK for 29 years and was bullied for 29 years because I have 'ginger' hair. I don't even have ginger hair my mam says it is Strawberry Blonde. Then I moved to Barcelona and they love gingers over here. I have had more female attention here in one year than 29 years in England. Move to Spain gingers you'll be treated like a god / goddess (have to be PC).
- Marc, Barcelona, Spain
Hate legislation covers everything from racial traits to sexual orientation, nationality or gender. Redheads have the same right to protection as everyone else.
- Rune, London
Like Mr B, I also have red hair, and am fed-up with pejorative names for my hair colouring. The disgraceful treatment of this redheaded family shows the general public think we are exempt from ‘hate speech’ legislation. Indeed, the main problem is non-redheads think this is all just one huge joke. Hair dye is not an option as we have such fair skin we’d look like ghosts with darker hair!
- Jill, Teddington, UK
I hope they find some peace. Its interesting that even the comments here show the small minded attitudes of a lot of people.
- Karen, Paddington
It must be about more than the hair colour. These people look as if they could be victimised whatever the colour of their hair. But look on the bright side: they'll probably be better off in a new home away from the bigots. I'd be happy to have them as neighbours - if they could afford a £500,000 house.
- Rob, Bristol, Bristol
Many people still seem to think that it is somehow ok to verbally and physically abuse people with ginger hair. For those of us who have suffered if over the years, it is as upsetting and disgusting as any racist abuse, because the mindset is the same - "You look different - so we hate you". Since racial abuse and religious intolerance are now illegal - why don't we protect those who are equally abused, simply for the colour of their hair! It is pathetic that this family has been made to suffer, and there is no justice or protection for them! Shame on you who propagate this behaviour! Shame on you who don't stop others from behaving like this!
- Mr B, London, UK
Well that takes the (ginger) biscuit.
- Garry Atkinson, Blyton, Lincs, UK
It’s a shame Britain is such a hateful and bullying nation.
- Brandon Thomas, London, UK
How odd... kinda funny though...
- Jk, London, UK
Might be worth investing in some hair dye?
- Dan Besser, London
Looking at the pictures I would have thought it much more likely that they're being hounded for being chavs than being ginger.
- Trevor Roll, London
