A citizens group has come up with its own creative response to the UK home office’s #knifefree chicken boxes initiative, with a sprinkle of information and a dollop of humor for fried chicken lovers.
The group operating under the name ‘Spelling mistakes cost lives,’ which has set up a fundraising website for the project, has branded the government’s campaign to combat knife crime as “patronising, racist and dumb.” They say any money received will go to making alternative chicken boxes.
The boxes will have the messages “All cops are boneless” and “Don’t be a chicken! Know your rights!” emblazoned on them. Inside consumers will find information about rights on the police’s ‘stop and search’ policy and how they can respond.
The new strategy to curb knife crime, by putting anti-stabbing messages on takeaway boxes of fried chicken in several restaurant chains in England and Wales has been widely condemned. Critics have denounced the initiative as racist due to an age old trope of linking black people and fried chicken.
Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbot called it a “crude, offensive and probably expensive” campaign that demonizes her community. While Tottenham MP David Lammy asked on Twitter: “What’s next, knife-free watermelons?”
“Knife free” chicken boxes were revealed on Wednesday as the keystone of London’s plan to combat the surge of knifings across the UK. More than 321,000 takeaway containers will be sent to chains like Morley’s, Dixy Chicken and Chicken Cottage.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!