The daughter of a woman allegedly stabbed in a Queensland shopping center has called for people not to be attacked because they have the same skin color as her alleged attacker, and posted that a boy was almost forced to take his own life due to harassment.
Danice White took to Facebook on Friday to call for unity, saying that if people wanted to help her family they should “stop attacking people of the same culture” like a teen accused of the attack.
A 16-year-old boy of African origin who moved to Australia as a baby has been charged with murder over the death of 70-year-old Vyleen White, who was allegedly attacked outside Town Square Redbank Plains a week ago outside her granddaughter.
Mrs. White’s other daughter, Cindy Micaleff, joined the Queensland African Communities Council (QACC) this week to call for “peace” following reports of abuse and harassment towards Ipswich’s African community.
Danice stated that she had been personally told about an African boy in the community, completely unrelated to the case, who had attempted to take his own life following the abuse and intimidation he suffered in the wake of the tragedy.
Vyleen White (pictured) was allegedly stabbed outside Town Square Redbank Plains to steal her 2009 Hyundai Getz.
White’s daughter, Danica, sued for peace and claimed she knew an African boy unrelated to the case who had been bullied to the point of almost taking his own life.
On the Redbank Plain community notice board on Friday, Ms White thanked the community for the outpouring of support, but also took aim at reports that some people had been attacking Africans because of their race.
She said that IIf people really want to help our family, they could discourage any retaliation against people of the same race as the accused.
“An innocent child should not have been bullied because of his skin color to the point of committing suicide… stop attacking and start uniting, it will bring change,” he said.
He added that if people “wanted to do something” they should pressure politicians to take more action to curb the problem of youth crime.
“My last name may be White, but I love the color black,” she said.
Ms White’s other daughter, Cindy Micallef, took part in a press conference in Redbank Plains on Thursday alongside Queensland Council of African Communities (QACC) president Beny Bol OAM.
Vyleen White’s other daughter, Cindy Micaleff, comforts victim’s husband, Victor
Queensland Council of African Communities president Beny Bol said the families of teenagers arrested in connection with Ms White’s case were “heartbroken” and felt “judged and misunderstood”.
He pleaded that the community should not react with anger towards innocent families.
‘Mom’s legacy will live on in peace. She never had prejudices, she always looked for the best in people,” she said.
Bol said he was “moved” by Micallef’s decision to join him in calling for peace and unity.
“We are united and want to make sure that no other family goes through the same pain again,” he said.
“It’s not about race or religion, we are here because if anyone in our community, and I’m talking about the Australian community, cares, grieves and wants to see Vyleen’s legacy shine, you need to join us. You need to be with we.
“The best way to honor his legacy is to preach peace, unity, justice and accountability, and make sure that people who do bad things are held individually accountable.”
Four other teenagers, two aged 16 and two aged 15, have also been charged with one count each of unlawful use of a vehicle in connection with the alleged theft of Ms White’s car.
Bol said the families of the teens arrested in connection with White’s alleged murder and the theft of his car were “heartbroken” and felt “judged, misunderstood.”
“People don’t know what they’re going through,” he said. ‘They came (to Australia) for their children, they wanted a future for their children.
“These are parents and families who want to see everyone happy, living in peace and the children growing up in peace and enjoying life…they feel so disempowered and confused.”
Local woman Melissa Halliday is pictured visiting a supermarket memorial on Tuesday as residents call on the government to tackle youth crime.
Mr Bol said since Ms White’s death, Black Australians in places further afield than Ipswich had received “a lot of verbal abuse” and trolling attacks on social media.
The attacks included people saying ‘go back’, ‘you’re cute’, ‘you shouldn’t be in this country’ and ‘pack all your things and go back to your country’.
Micallef said he had spoken to families of African origin who were “afraid to take their children to school” following the attack on his mother.
“There will always be unruly children,” he said, but called on Queensland Premier Steven Miles to take stronger crime prevention measures.
“He promised to protect the community and make changes,” he said at the news conference. “What he says has no basis.
“If this government is not going to make a change, let it be, because we are going to get someone to make the changes we need.”
South Sudan Community Association of Queensland (SSCAQ) president Peter Garang Kooch agreed there has been an increase in aggression directed at members of his community, both in public and online.
Pictured: Peter Garang Kooch, President of the South Sudanese Community Association of Queensland.
He said he was aware of at least three reports made to police in the Ipswich area about bullying incidents.
“There has been verbal abuse and some (people) are threatening to physically attack, so (community members) have had to flee for their safety,” Kooch told Daily Mail Australia.
“Now everyone in my community is afraid that something will happen to us in a shopping center or a gathering place; especially women and children are afraid.”
Kooch said that, as in all communities, the act of killing is condemned within South Sudanese culture.
He said his community was devastated by what allegedly happened to Mrs White and that the resulting racism had been sad and disappointing.
“As human beings, when something like this happens, everyone feels sad,” he said.
‘We are all Australians regardless of our color or where we come from.
‘In every community there are good and bad things. We cannot generalize. When a crime is committed, it must be separated from the individual’s family and community.
‘We should let the law take its course. Anyone who takes the law into his own hands must be responsible for what he has done.’