Boycott hangs over bar in row over fake sex ads
A Leamington bar could be boycotted in a row over “sexist, racist and violent” adverts depicted on its walls.
The Moo Bar in Russell Street could also face a picket by students angered by the sexual depiction of women in the fake adverts covering walls.
Pictures taken of the images include scantilly-clad women and fake phone numbers with wording such as “Black runaway slave girl aged 18 seeks plantation master” in a style once left in phone boxes by women selling sex.
Warwick University student Sophie Rees, aged 25, spotted the wall coverings when she called in at the bar with friends as part of her regular social visits to it.
Ms Rees, who is president of the student group Warwick Anti-Sexism Society (WASS) said: “We took pictures of them because we were so appalled.
“It’s presenting women as placid, submissive and available to be purchased for pleasure. They allude to an old fashioned image and presenting them as kitsch and edgy, when in fact they are just in poor taste.
“It’s violence, racism and the sexualisation of women and that’s what we are complaning about.
“We are calling for a boycott and won’t rule out the possibility of picketing the bar.
“There’s quite a big student night there, so a boycott could have a significant effect.”
Ms Ress, who lives in north Leamington, said an online petition calling for the fake ads to be taken down got more than 1,000 names in nine hours, with the numbers rising. A letter of complaint was sent to the bar and everyone who put their names to the petition would have had an automatic link to an email address associated with the bar, said Ms Rees.
She also said they were in talks with Warwick Students Union about official backing for a boycott.
A message left by the Courier at the bar and at a phone number associated with the bar brought no response to a request for a comment.
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Weather for Leamington
Sunday 26 May 2013
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