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| 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 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Victoria police launch investigation after Indigenous star posts CCTV footage on Instagram and states ‘Aboriginal kids deserve to be able to play safely’ | Victoria police launch investigation after Indigenous star posts CCTV footage on Instagram and states ‘Aboriginal kids deserve to be able to play safely’ |
| Victoria police are investigating after Indigenous AFL great Eddie Betts shared footage of his 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. | 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. |
| Victoria police on Friday afternoon said they had received a report regarding “verbal racial abuse toward children outside a property in Glen Iris”. | Victoria police on Friday afternoon said they had received a report regarding “verbal racial abuse toward children outside a property in Glen Iris”. |
| The police alleged a car drove past the home after 8.30pm on Thursday and someone “yelled from the windows before driving away”. | The police alleged a car drove past the home after 8.30pm on Thursday and someone “yelled from the windows before driving away”. |
| Earlier, a spokesperson said the force took such matters “very seriously” and asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. | Earlier, a spokesperson said the force took such matters “very seriously” and asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. |
| “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.” |
| A spokesperson for Betts’ foundation said while Eddie was unfortunately used to racism in his daily life “the overtness and aggression directed at his young kids and nephews, in their house, has really upset him and their families”. | |
| “Aboriginal kids deserve freedom to play sport, go to school and go about their lives free of racism and abuse,” the spokesperson said on Friday. | |
| “Eddie will continue to have conversations with Australia on how racism manifests in different ways and thanks everyone for their support – we need everyone to be part of this solution.” | |
| 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.” |
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| The AFL chief executive, Andrew Dillon, and the league’s general manager of inclusion, Tanya Hosch, thanked Betts “for bringing this disturbing behaviour to our attention”. | |
| “We must not look away,” they said in a joint statement. | |
| “We invite everyone to follow Eddie’s example in calling out racism when you hear, read or see it. We invite everyone to report racism wherever possible. Racism is wrong. Racism is harmful. Racism requires a response.” | |
| The AFL Players’ Association offered its support and called the incident awful. | 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. | “No one should ever have to experience this. We stand with you Eddie,” the group wrote. |
| 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.” |