Accusations of racism as shop sells zippadydoohdah immigrant bags

The owners of a shop have been accused of racism for selling “zippadydoohdah immigrant bags” advertised on a sign with a black man.



The offensive hand-drawn poster shows the cartoon man holding two pieces of luggage and the words: “zippadydoohdah zip-up immigrant bags 1.50.” Critics claim the sign in the window of Benefactors Hardware in Crowborough, East Sussex, is clearly racist and xenophobic.

The sign was first spotted by music composer, Nick Harvey who posted the sign on Twitter and said: “There’s a hardware store in Crowborough, E Sussex called Benefactors. Please don’t shop there.” A following tweet said: “Since moving to Crowborough a year ago, a couple of people have told me of its racist underbelly, but nothing could prepare me for that.”



A spokeswoman from East Sussex Police said: “Police received a call shortly before 6pm on Wednesday to a report of a racist sign in a shop window. Officers visited the shop on Thursday morning and the shop was shut, however attempts are being made to get hold of the owner to speak to them and ask them to remove the sign. We will then investigate to see if any offences have been committed.”