Zim hero shames vile Australian racists

via Zim hero shames vile Australian racists 14 October 2014

HE stood calmly between his abuser and members of the public, unflinching as sickening racial slurs were hurled at him.

Josphat Mkhwananzi has been commended for ‘holding his own in a professional and peaceful manner’ as a teenager, who has now been charged along with another man, hurled a tirade of abuse at the guard on a Brisbane train with the shocking footage going viral.
The incident, which occurred October 2, was caught on video and posted online overnight.

It shows a teenager screaming obscenities at the Queensland Rail Security guard, who is from Zimbabwe, after he was told to take his feet off the seat just before midnight.
The seemingly simple request sparked an ugly torrent of racial abuse.

When the man is told to get off the train he refuses, and launches into a lengthy rant in which he calls the guard a “black dog”, “c***”, “n*****” and asks if he “even has citizenship”.

Warning: Video contains foul, racist and abusive language

Appearing at Brisbane magistrates court on Monday, Abdel-Kader Russell-Boumzar, an apprentice mechanic, was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, creating a nuisance on a railway, threatening violence, common assault and using a carriage service to menace or harass.

Bronwyn Springer, the magistrate, said Russell-Boumzar’s behaviour had been “disgusting” and said jail was a possibility if he was found guilty of spitting on his victim.

Prosecutor sergeant Scott Pearson told the court police would also apply for an order that Russell-Boumzar be banned from train stations and tested for any diseases in light of the allegation of spitting.

Court documents filed by police, who wanted Russell-Boumzar to remain in custody “for his own safety and welfare”, state he has told investigators of “having suicidal thoughts as he has brought shame upon his family and his boss”.
The teenager had “shown remorse but more for his own family and himself than his actions towards [Mkhwananzi]”, police claim.

Russell-Boumzar’s friend, Bailey Clout, who filmed the incident and is heard laughing at his friend’s alleged behaviour in the footage, was fined $400 after pleading guilty to causing a disturbance on a railway.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has condemned the incident calling it “un-Australian”.

Abbott said he “absolutely deplored” the young man’s verbal attack on the guard after being asked to take his feet off the seat.

“I think it’s un-Australian to abuse someone in a public place just because you don’t like the way they look, or you don’t like the way they dress, or you make assumptions about what they believe,” he said.
“That’s completely un-Australian.”

A Facebook page believed to be that of the alleged offender issued an apology following claim earlier in the day that he was “proud to be white”.

“I was just drunk couldn’t remember shit so stop over reacting, but I am proud to be white!” a post on the site on Saturday night read.
It was followed up hours later with an apology, and a claim that an earlier post was not made by the alleged offender.

“I’m really sorry to everyone that was affected by the video I really cannot remember anything out of all honesty the post made before was someone else I know this is no excuse,” the post read, adding the admission that he had behaved like an “idiot”.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he had spoken to Mkhwananzi, and commended his behaviour.
“I have conveyed two things to him personally. Firstly, I thought he showed admirable restraint,” Newman said.

“I think he, from what I could see, responded very professionally in what was a very difficult situation, and I have thanked him for his great job as part of the Queensland Rail team.

“Secondly, I have conveyed to him my absolute disgust at what he was subjected to. I’ve told him how totally unacceptable it was.”

Newman said if the train guard did not make a complaint to police, the Government would take action on his behalf.
“We’ll look at whatever we can do [to] go after this individual,” he said.

“It was not on, totally inappropriate, and frankly just some sort of Facebook apology doesn’t cut the mustard, as far as I’m concerned.
“This is Australia, you’ve got to look after one another and respect one another.”

‘Joes’ employers, Securecorp, who are contracted by Queensland Rail, say they are extremely proud of ‘Joe’ in a ‘de-escalating situation’.

‘Securecorp would like to highlight and commend in particular, our security customer service officer who was personally subjected to this abuse on his ‘professional conduct and adhering to correct protocol whilst managing the situation in regards to the safety of all involved,’ said Securecorp’s Craig Harwood.
‘SECUREcorp would also like to thank the passengers and the general public for their support in this matter.’

Back to Home page