South African police Saturday intervened to clear protesters trashing outlets of Swedish clothing giant Hennes and Mauritz in Johannesburg over a controversial advertisement of a black child. A photo on the company’s online website of a black boy wearing a green hoodie with the inscription “coolest monkey in the jungle” had triggered outrage on social media and among observers worldwide. The company has pulled the photograph but the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) — a radical group set up by the expelled head of the youth wing of the ruling African National Congress — organised protests at several H&M outlets in and around Johannesburg. Video footage showed activists trashing displays, kicking over and pulling down clothes rails as well as pushing over mannequins. “Several incidents of protests at H&M stores around the province have been reported,” South African police (SAPS) said in a tweet. “At the East Rand Mall the protesters managed to enter the shop & stole several items. #SAPS members had to intervene and dispersed the group of protesters by firing rubber bullets.” Floyd Shivambu from EFF said: ‘That @hm nonsense of a clothing store is now facing consequences for its racism. All rational people should agree that the store should not be allowed to continue operating in South Africa.” H&M is not the only major company to be hit by an advertisement scandal in recent years. Spanish clothing brand Zara in 2014 removed striped pyjamas with a yellow star after facing outrage over its resemblance to clothes worn by Jewish prisoners in concentration camps. And in October last year, personal care brand Dove apologised after it was accused of racism for airing a commercial showing a black woman turning into a white woman after removing her top. source:vangaurdngr

What an insensitive advert.... I can bet similar thing will almost go unnoticed in Nigeria... Let alone bring about a protest.... We need more than youth social media activism to advance our course in Nigeria

Africans are killed on the streets of SA by black south Africans so why are they protesting ? they started it now they are offended .

Black people have become a very insecure and complex driven race , the only thing we blacks do now is react to primitive content of color and race while ignoring the endless possibilities the world currently offers ..

Alejoa:
What an insensitive advert.... I can bet similar thing will almost go unnoticed in Nigeria... Let alone bring about a protest.... We need more than youth social media activism to advance our course in Nigeria

u have spoken like a princess!!

To me South Africa is like a depreciating company that lost it's competent and effective manager to a looser (management) hence it's depreciation

Black South Africans are all azzholes, they should deal with their sh1t.

freshkpomo:
u have spoken like a princess!!

Thanks Monseur!