Schoolgirl Protests “Rude” T-Shirt

Thursday 26th of June 2008 09:12:51 AM

Schoolgirl Protests “Rude” T-Shirt

A seven-year-old schoolgirl has taken action after finding a T-shirt hanging outside a shop offensive. Bernadette Davey, of Scarborough, contacted the police and the council asking that the “rude” T-shirt be removed from outside the shop.

But instead of taking down the offending T-shirt, the shop owner merely placed a sign over the area in question that said “lift me.” Bernadette said, “It was horrible seeing the T-shirt all the time. I don’t want to see things like that and I still think the T-shirt should be taken inside. I think it is disgusting and I was hoping that it would be taken down and out of view. I don’t think adults consider us children enough.”

Seven-year-old Bernadette and her granddad Hugh Davey, often walk past the shop on their way to the Harbour Bar. When passing the shop, Bernadette pointed out the offending T-shirt to her granddad and said that she did not think it should be shown in public.

Bernadette said, “I thought it was very rude and I felt very offended by it, and so did my granddad. My granddad said I was right. I went into the shop to ask if the lady behind the counter would take it down, but she said she is legally allowed to have it there. That’s why we went to the Town Hall to complain and they contacted the police for us. A policeman came to meet me and said he would go to the shop and ask for it to be taken down. It is still there though.”

Bernadette’s granddad, Mr. Davey said, “I am very proud of Bernadette for taking action and not ignoring issues she feels are important. She’s just a great little girl and I can’t tell how pleased we are that she has the courage and confidence to do things like this. It is a pity more young people aren’t like her. I agree with her that the T-shirt was disgusting.

“This is supposed to be a family resort and having images on show like that is not appropriate. It goes against public decency. We are still hoping that the T-shirt will be removed from view bur whether that will actually happen, I don’t know.”

The owner of the shop did not want to comment.