This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/29/former-afl-player-eddie-betts-shares-video-of-racist-abuse-hurled-at-children-playing-in-yard
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Former AFL player Eddie Betts shares video of racist abuse hurled at children playing in yard | Former AFL player Eddie Betts shares video of racist abuse hurled at children playing in yard |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Victoria police seek more information after Indigenous star posts CCTV footage on Instagram and states ‘Aboriginal kids deserve to be able to play safely’ | Victoria police seek more information after Indigenous star posts CCTV footage on Instagram and states ‘Aboriginal kids deserve to be able to play safely’ |
| The Indigenous AFL great Eddie Betts has shared footage of children being racially abused in their own yard while stating “we are not even safe in our own homes”. | The Indigenous AFL great Eddie Betts has shared footage of children being racially abused in their own yard while stating “we are not even safe in our own homes”. |
| Betts shared security camera footage on social media on Thursday night showing a white car driving down a street before slowing down in front of a home. A person then yells out racial slurs. | |
| The footage shared on Instagram shows four children playing basketball in the fenced yard as the car drives past. | The footage shared on Instagram shows four children playing basketball in the fenced yard as the car drives past. |
| “Aboriginal kids deserve to be able to play safely, free from racism and abuse over the fence,” Betts posted. | “Aboriginal kids deserve to be able to play safely, free from racism and abuse over the fence,” Betts posted. |
| “We are not even safe in our own homes. If you know who this is please let them know I’m open to having a chat about how much this hurts our kids 💔” | “We are not even safe in our own homes. If you know who this is please let them know I’m open to having a chat about how much this hurts our kids 💔” |
| On Friday morning, Betts posted: “Thanks everyone for your support … it’s not going to stop the kids from playing ball” alongside a picture of the children back on the basketball court. | On Friday morning, Betts posted: “Thanks everyone for your support … it’s not going to stop the kids from playing ball” alongside a picture of the children back on the basketball court. |
| The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, described the footage as “sickening and disgusting”. She said such behaviour had “no place” in the state. | The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, described the footage as “sickening and disgusting”. She said such behaviour had “no place” in the state. |
| The premier said Betts was a “strong and proud Indigenous man who’s talked about his own experiences and it must be pretty painful to see his kids go through that”. | The premier said Betts was a “strong and proud Indigenous man who’s talked about his own experiences and it must be pretty painful to see his kids go through that”. |
| “I’m really sorry his kids have had to go through that experience because it is absolutely sickening behaviour.” | “I’m really sorry his kids have had to go through that experience because it is absolutely sickening behaviour.” |
| Victoria police said it was aware of the video but had not received an official complaint. A spokesperson said the force took such matters “very seriously” and “if you have any information about this incident or another crime motivated by prejudice you can call Crime Stoppers confidentially”. | Victoria police said it was aware of the video but had not received an official complaint. A spokesperson said the force took such matters “very seriously” and “if you have any information about this incident or another crime motivated by prejudice you can call Crime Stoppers confidentially”. |
| “Crimes motivated by prejudice cause serious harm to victims, often leaving them, and their communities, feeling vulnerable, threatened and isolated,” they said. | “Crimes motivated by prejudice cause serious harm to victims, often leaving them, and their communities, feeling vulnerable, threatened and isolated,” they said. |
| “Victoria police do not tolerate violence, including that which is motivated by prejudice, racism or discrimination. People who experience or witness crimes or incidents motivated by prejudice should report them to police at their local police station.” | “Victoria police do not tolerate violence, including that which is motivated by prejudice, racism or discrimination. People who experience or witness crimes or incidents motivated by prejudice should report them to police at their local police station.” |
| Sign up to Australia Sport | Sign up to Australia Sport |
| Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk | Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk |
| after newsletter promotion | after newsletter promotion |
| The AFL Players’ Association offered its support and called the incident awful. | |
| “No one should ever have to experience this. We stand with you Eddie,” the group wrote. | |
| The Melbourne Football Club star Christian Petracca labelled the incident “disgusting” and said he was thinking of Betts and the family in a comment on the original post. | The Melbourne Football Club star Christian Petracca labelled the incident “disgusting” and said he was thinking of Betts and the family in a comment on the original post. |
| The Western Bulldogs’ official page also said the incident was “disgraceful” in a comment on Betts’s video. | The Western Bulldogs’ official page also said the incident was “disgraceful” in a comment on Betts’s video. |
| The AFLW player Darcy Vescio sent love to the kids and said they hoped the family was doing OK. | The AFLW player Darcy Vescio sent love to the kids and said they hoped the family was doing OK. |
| Betts retired from the AFL in 2021 after a career spanning 350 games with Carlton and Adelaide. He has been outspoken about the racist abuse he faced during his career – both on and off the field. | Betts retired from the AFL in 2021 after a career spanning 350 games with Carlton and Adelaide. He has been outspoken about the racist abuse he faced during his career – both on and off the field. |
| In 2016 someone in the crowd threw a banana at him during a match. | In 2016 someone in the crowd threw a banana at him during a match. |
| In a 2022 interview with NITV, Betts said that “profile or no profile, I’m going to be racially abused” because he is “Blak in Australia”. | In a 2022 interview with NITV, Betts said that “profile or no profile, I’m going to be racially abused” because he is “Blak in Australia”. |
| “I’ve just got a platform now … but people don’t like me talking about it,” he said at the time. “They want to put me back in my box. They don’t like me standing up.” | “I’ve just got a platform now … but people don’t like me talking about it,” he said at the time. “They want to put me back in my box. They don’t like me standing up.” |