Story perspectives

Scottish Court Deems “Yank” Racial Harassment, Awards £5k

7/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Scottish court ruled that calling Americans “Yank” constitutes racial harassment, banning the term for more than five million Britons.
An American Pizza Express employee in Aberdeen sued a coworker for the insult and was awarded £5,000.
Tribunal judge Melanie Sangster classified the shouted “Yank” as race-related harassment and upheld the dismissal for gross misconduct.
The judge rejected the defense that the 60th-anniversary uniforms displayed Nazi symbols.

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Story summary

Scottish court ruled that calling Americans “Yank” constitutes racial harassment, banning the term for more than five million Britons.
An American Pizza Express employee in Aberdeen sued a coworker for the insult and was awarded £5,000.
Tribunal judge Melanie Sangster classified the shouted “Yank” as race-related harassment and upheld the dismissal for gross misconduct.
The judge rejected the defense that the 60th-anniversary uniforms displayed Nazi symbols.