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'Fat and Black' Slur Infuriates 100-kg Lady, Demands Police Apology

by Hannah Punitha on Jun 23 2008 4:56 PM

"Fat and black" - these were the two words which left Rube Nixon furious, after they were written to her by a police officer in an official document.

Now, the indigenous health worker who weighs more than 100kg, is demanding an apology.

Nixon, however, admits that she's overweight.

She has recently lost 12kg and knows she needs to lose more.

But to have a police officer choose the word fat, when asked to officially describe her build, was highly insulting and highlighted a backward attitude, she said.

"I am angry. It is derogatory, it is inflammatory," News.com.au quoted her, as saying.

"I felt really depressed when I read it. You say you have got a medium, slight or a heavy build - I am of a large build. Not fat and black," she added.

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The cultural trainer said she was proud of being black but believed Cunnamulla police officer Constable A.J. Pendlebury used the word in a derogatory way, just as she claims he used the word fat.

She is demanding an apology from the constable and the Queensland Police Service and wants improved cultural and social awareness training for police.

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Constable Pendlebury pulled Nixon over in Cunnamulla for a traffic offence and her lawyer supplied the court brief.

Police initially declined to apologize, saying "the document was only intended for internal use" and no offence was meant.

"I regret any embarrassment felt as a result of this matter, and I will be contacting the person as soon as possible to discuss our response," said Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson.

He said both skin colour and build terms would be reviewed after the complaint.

Source-ANI
SPH


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