December 14, 2021
Dial down Covid anger says Foon
The Human Rights Commission wants people to dial it down.
Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon says since the start of Covid complaints to the commission hotline about random acts of verbal unkindness have leapt from about 200 a week to over 700.
Bad and hurtful language is being directed at frontline workers in petrol stations, supermarkets, stores, police, ambulance officers, hospitals, and even people delivering food parcels.
“We’re just saying come on folks, dial it down, dial down your hatefulness, your speech, have some self-reflection, think before you actually say something, dial down the hate and dial up the aroha,” Mr Foon says.
While the previous system of Covid levels seemed to be widely accepted, the new traffic light system seems to be more divisive with people getting upset about masks and vaccine passes.
He’s encouraging those who have an exemption to wear their proof on a lanyard to ease people’s concerns.