Council says 'totally unacceptable' racist graffiti 'quickly' removed from footbridge near Himley – but motorists claim it is still there
A council claims to have removed a piece of racist graffiti spotted on a footbridge on the A449 near Himley – but motorists say it is still there.
South Staffordshire Council was alerted to the phrase 'White Lives Matter' which could be seen painted on a bridge above the road near to its exit for Himley Hall and Park.
A spokeswoman for the council said: "We are aware there has been graffiti in this area, which we promptly had removed.
"This matter has now been referred to Staffordshire Police."
However, motorists passing the spot over the weekend say the slogan is still clearly visible on the bridge.
One Dudley resident contacted the Express & Star to say the slogan was still there on Sunday morning, with what looked like an attempt to remove part of it failing to cover-up the wording.
The driver, who did not wish to be named, said: "This is awful - they need to get that taken off quickly."
The Express & Star has contacted Staffordshire Police and South Staffordshire Council for further comment.
'White Lives Matter' is a white supremacist phrase that originated in early 2015 as a racist response to the Black Lives Matter movement, which arose to protest against police brutality against African-Americans.
By 2016 other white supremacist groups, including Ku Klux Klan groups, were also using the slogan, and it soon became a staple among white supremacist mantras, continuing even after the original campaigners ceased their activities.
Himley Parish councillor Malcolm Crisp condemned the slogan and said it was "totally unacceptable".
He said: "It's not the kind of thing people want to look at driving down the road – it's certainly not acceptable.
"You don't know whether it's malicious but unfortunately the perpetrators aren't caught which, it would be nice if these people were prosecuted, but what happens if they are prosecuted - nothing.
"For me is whether the council can get off their back-sides and shift it. If it isn't there too long, hopefully people won't copy it.
"Any sound-minded person would say it's not acceptable. Hopefully (the council) get something done but it's in the lap of the God's."