Black people banned from McDonald’s China restaurant in Guangzhou. McDonald’s China has now apologised, closed the restaurant and is training staff in diversity and inclusion.
The McDonald’s restaurant located in the industrial city of Guangzhou has been temporarily closed after it tried to ban black people from entering over fears of spreading Covid-19.
Sign denied entry to black people
The restaurant displayed a sign at the entrance that read: “We’ve been informed that from now on black people are not allowed to enter the restaurant.
The incident comes as racial tensions mount in the city, home to China’s largest African communities. McDonald’s China ban black people is the last headline wanted currently, especially on social media.
Wider racial tension
In recent weeks, hundreds of Africans in the southern Chinese city were evicted from hotels and apartments. The evictions resulted from rumours that Covid-19 was spreading among African people.
Twitter and many other social media channels are reporting on tensions spreading.
African communities blame Chinese Government
No source for the rumours has been identified or claimed, many impacted pointed the finger at the Chinese Government.
A spokesperson for one African community said: “We all know where Covid-19 originated and many of us have suffered. First the virus closed our businesses, then prejudice evicted us from our homes.”
The African Union has summoned the Chinese ambassador regarding Africans being evicted from flats and hotels in Guangzhou over ‘totally unsubstantiated’ claims they are spreading Coronavirus.
The news was reported quickly around the world. First in the UK by the BBC and then in the US by The New York Times. It is now worldwide, as is the condemnation.
McDonald’s said the store was closed quickly when the company became aware of the disturbing notice. They also stated that the restaurant’s ban on black people was not part of the company’s “inclusive values”.
We understand that staff at the restaurant are now undergoing extensive training to avoid any repeat of the unfortunate incident.
McDonald’s was one of the first major restaurant chains in the UK to announce full close of its restaurants.