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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bristol University pair 'victims of racist online abuse' | Bristol University pair 'victims of racist online abuse' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Two black university students who say they were subjected to months of "malicious" online racial abuse have decided to report it officially. | |
| Timi Ariyo spoke out after a video about him containing abusive singing and monkey noises was sent on Snapchat. | |
| Tami Sotire said she had initially been scared to report abuse directed at her on social media for fear the group would "become more angry". | |
| They will now meet Bristol University and will also be "alerting police". | |
| 'Bring to justice' | |
| The university said it was "shocked and saddened" and would have "investigated immediately" had staff been informed. It urged students to report abuse. | |
| Ms Sotire said: "From the public support, I know that these people are in the minority and should really be brought to justice for the stuff they've put us through." | |
| Mr Ariyo said: "In light of the response we've had from friends and family, and people that we don't even know, a lot of people have urged us to go to the police. | |
| "And speaking to my family we've said it's probably the best thing to do to get it on record, just for safety as well." | |
| The video, posted in December, showed a group of white men singing an abusive song about Mr Ariyo. | The video, posted in December, showed a group of white men singing an abusive song about Mr Ariyo. |
| 'Pack mentality' | |
| The third year law student said: "It was quite shocking when I first saw the video, obviously they are people that I know. | The third year law student said: "It was quite shocking when I first saw the video, obviously they are people that I know. |
| "And it was weird to see that it was happening in such a public place - they were so passionately chanting such a racist thing. | "And it was weird to see that it was happening in such a public place - they were so passionately chanting such a racist thing. |
| "So many of my friends saw the video and were like 'wow I've never seen anything like that, I didn't know it still happened in 2017' - and it does," he said. | "So many of my friends saw the video and were like 'wow I've never seen anything like that, I didn't know it still happened in 2017' - and it does," he said. |
| The pair, from Essex, said their abusers were mainly from their old school back home, but also included a fellow university student. | The pair, from Essex, said their abusers were mainly from their old school back home, but also included a fellow university student. |
| Mr Ariyo, 21, said that the abuse was carried out with a "pack mentality", in the belief no one member could be singled out for taking part. | Mr Ariyo, 21, said that the abuse was carried out with a "pack mentality", in the belief no one member could be singled out for taking part. |
| He added: "I think it got to a point where it was becoming malicious and offensive and that's when I realised it wasn't my friends making a joke, it was people targeting and being nasty." | He added: "I think it got to a point where it was becoming malicious and offensive and that's when I realised it wasn't my friends making a joke, it was people targeting and being nasty." |
| 'Based on skin colour' | 'Based on skin colour' |
| Ms Sotire, 21, said she could not escape the abuse - which started in April - on social media. | Ms Sotire, 21, said she could not escape the abuse - which started in April - on social media. |
| "Me and Timi made the effort to... block them, delete them off everything. But they continued to target us with Snapchat, add me to Whatsapp groups. | "Me and Timi made the effort to... block them, delete them off everything. But they continued to target us with Snapchat, add me to Whatsapp groups. |
| "People have taken it upon themselves to bully me and Timi based on our skin colour. They don't even know us." | "People have taken it upon themselves to bully me and Timi based on our skin colour. They don't even know us." |
| The second year psychology student added the abusive video was recorded at a pub and she feared bumping into the group. | The second year psychology student added the abusive video was recorded at a pub and she feared bumping into the group. |
| "It's about 10 to 15 boys that we can bump into at any time. | "It's about 10 to 15 boys that we can bump into at any time. |
| "I just fear that this group of white boys will become more angry at black people, more angry at me - especially if I take it to the police." | "I just fear that this group of white boys will become more angry at black people, more angry at me - especially if I take it to the police." |