A GROUP of elderly Caribbean men beat a London council that banned them from playing dominoes in a square.
Westminster City Council lost a court case after Ernest Theophile, 74, challenged the local authority who claimed the men were playing the game “too loudly.”
The men had gathered at Maida Hill Market Square for the past 12 years to play dominoes, cards and backgammon until town hall officials stopped them.
But Theophile, who was born in Dominica, accused the council of making a racially-motivated decision and took them to court. Now he has won, after a judge said the decision was ‘flawed’ and ‘untenable.’
Neighbours in the posh area collected more than 200 complaints against the elders, claiming they were causing antisocial behaviour problems.
Last year a judge changed the ban so the friends could return to socialise, but they faced the threat of jail if they were caught “playing loud amplified music, drinking alcohol, shouting or swearing”.
Today a new court ruling by Judge Heather Baucher at central London county court criticised officials for dismissing equalities concerns.
Theophile told The Guardian: “If you are West Indian, you just can’t play dominoes without making a bit of noise.
“The loneliness was one of the biggest factors as to why we gather there. That’s why the square [is] ideal for us.
“Sometimes the younger generation come here and congregate, but we just want a place where we can socialise and play a few games to pass the time.”
Westminster Council changed political control last week after Labour won power in the borough for the first time. The new administration is keen to find a solution.
A council spokesperson said: “We recognise and accept the judgement of the high court.
“This is the first time that we have been asked to apply equalities law when applying for an injunction, which is why we had previously not sought one.
“We maintain and continue to believe that our actions have always been in the best interests of local residents, who have been plagued by antisocial behaviour and criminality.
“However, the council is reviewing its approach to this case with the new administration looking to find a solution that works for the whole community.”
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27 Comments
They been playing there for 12yr now it’s a problem?? Uk is showing it true colours RACIST
Absolutely.
These men were probably playing dominoes there way before the area became ‘gentrified’
Well done to these elders who stood up for themselves 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Well done! They were right to fight for their right. We came here to clean the streets and do all the menial jobs they didn’t want to do. Now that we are old and need a bit of company and a place to meet our friends and play a game of fun-‘ they want to run us out.
I’m glad that someone had the sense to rule in these lovely gentleman favour.
Dominoes is not a🤦🏿♀️ quiet gamr, the slamming down of tiles , is how the game is played, the gentle ribbing of your opponent, you also need to communicate with your team. Impossible to play dominoes quietly. If a tree falls and no one hears it, did it make a sound ?
Well done Ernest !
Good to see he achieved justice, allowing him and his comrades to exist in the public space.
People need to take heed from this case, I suggest that the problem here is racists in both the community but also in local authorities, and there is no shortage of racists in local councils both on Conservative and Labour benches, both major parties are now led by racists, Johnson for the Tories who has described black people as Piccannini’s with water melon smiles, and Starmer in Labour who denies the Apartheid nature of the Israeli government that murders Palestinians in the street and beats those in a funeral parade.
Remember who was settled
I’m that part of Westminster…. The black, Irish and dogs! And now the areas housing prices have boomed they now want to “cull” the area! They’ll come up with another plan of gentrification watch and see…
Even the choice of words provided by the council like ‘plagued’ is questionable as it infers to prejudices about antisocial behaviour and criminality which is presupposed about race and I do not like the inference this provides about the elders enjoying their long running game.
If the elders were caucasian and baking pies, enjoying a beer and playing croquet in the open air to aid their mental health during the pandemic and had a lighter shade of skin, we would have clapped for them and maybe they may have even got an OBE.
Or perhaps the 200 complainants are only happy with their elders being looked after by Non English Nurses and Doctors while their families ship them prematurely and begrudgingly to care homes so they can benefit from inherited properties and the ‘legacy’ of privilege and entitlement.
Keep playing young men, enjoy your game and hold your head up high!
12 years mmmmm I would like to see who the 200 that complaint 🤔🤔🤔🤔
Hey y’all. I love a game of dominoes and backgammon… I carry my games case around in my car and set up at any opportunity. I ve circulated this story to many friends warning them to look out for the “fun stopping police” and we’re renaming ourselves the “fun loving criminals”… Anyone wanna join? Ange x
Here we have another example of Institutionalised Racism where after 12yrs they see even playing board games an issue if you’re black I doubt very much anything would have been said if the skin colour was different. Thank God the judge saw sense.
Loneliness is a common problem for both young and old, which leads to also sorts of physical and mental issues. The council and the society should be glad that theses men have found a cheap and enjoyable way to pass their days away. Not everyone wants to or can afford to go to a pub or club. I understand that they should try and control the noise they make to the best of their ability. Although having watched many a domino players when they get excited, a bit of noise is to be expected. After all life and some noise are for the living because when we are dead there will be total silence.
Wow. Well done guys, I’m so proud that you stood up for yourselves and didn’t let a bunch of snobs ruin your fun. What is the world coming to when a game of dominoes is seen as causing trouble? This is probably down to a bunch of gentrifiers who are not used to seeing people who look different from themselves.
I think there would be a problem even If the guys were not playing dominoes. Same old shit different day. M👊🏽🖤
People need to have something in their life to keep them amused and something too look forward too the world is changing every day so much has been going on example the padamic and the war and prices of food electricity gas petrol ect they are not harming no one this is one of the Caribbean most enjoyable game my granddaughter is 8 and she loves this game and all the rest of my family young and old im so glad you won this battle over well done guys keep it up and enjoy what you do best
A million thanks is not enough to Elders like Theophile for taking a bold stance against racists. Yes, these people who are buying up houses in areas where once only Black people lived must learn Dominoes is a noisy game when played by Black people. Their actions to continue gentrification is nationwide so people ‘be on guard about racism in many disguises’
Despite all the Labour and Left-wing’s “anti-racist, inclusion, diversity & inclusion” slogans, African-heritage people are not wanted, or really welcomed in today’s “woke” England.
Great news for these Caribbean-heritage Domino players.
Brilliant outcome – but this should never have happened!
Dominos is a Colonial legacy – far more popular in the Caribbean today than ever it was in Britain.
It’s a harmless social past time, which doesn’t incur great expense, its played outdoors in the shade, or in the evening cool, with skill that could make it a suitable addition to the Olympic Games! The way it is played however is flamboyant, and the pieces are specially made to add a noise to emphasise the declaration of success.
Well done to Ernest Theophile and his colleagues, and shame on those who don’t understand that the reason that we have many people with overseas heritage in Britain – is because our British ancestors took over their lands and people – trained them to be British, to be used or abused as Britain wanted.
“plagued by antisocial behaviour and criminality.”
That’s old guys playing dominoes for ya…….Not.
Did you read the whole thing ..younger people attend and they drink alcohol. You have to be in designated areas to drink alcohol outside .but come the old guys well done
“We maintain and continue to believe that our actions have always been in the best interests of local residents, who have been plagued by antisocial behaviour and criminality.
Regarding the councillors statement above. Since when has playing dominoes been an antisocial behaviour and criminality? Ridiculous!
I am glad that Mr Theophilus take a stand and let everyone knows that Caribbean people went to England and work in jobs that a lot of English wouldn’t take on.
This is part of the racism that black and brown people are facing after making these countries what they’re today..
“We maintain and continue to believe that our actions have always been in the best interests of local residents, who have been plagued by antisocial behaviour and criminality.”
Really? I challenge you to prove it was a result of some old guys playing dominoes!!
I love it when white people say this country isn’t as racist as the US. Only an idiotic racist would say that tbh
That there has been antisocial behaviour and criminality has nothing to do with those guys playing dominoes. There’s criminality in most areas of the land, but criminals don’t ply their trade where there are gatherings of elderly folk enjoying a game. This is another form of racists stereotyping. Those councillors who supported the release of that statement should apologize
These 200 signatories wish to shut their doors and windows once inside their gilded cages and fan away any semblance of happiness, freedom and brotherhood.
Bravo to the Caribbean Elders who wish to continue in their culture of game playing and noise making. it proves that they’re alive and well!
If the council feel that strongly about it why not give them a building to play in tax free and government should pay for it
We have no where to go and when we play outside they still trying to beat us down
Thank you for let in us know racism is still.in effect