The daughter of a woman allegedly stabbed at a Queensland shopping center has asked that people not be targeted because they have the same skin color as her alleged attacker, and posted that a boy was almost driven to suicide due to bullying.
Danice White took to Facebook Friday to plead for unity, saying that if people want to help her family, they should “stop attacking people of the same culture” as a teenager accused of the attack.
A 16-year-old boy of African descent 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 in front of her granddaughter a week ago.
Mrs. White’s other daughter, Cindy Micaleff, this week joined the Queensland African Communities Council (QACC) to call for ‘peace’ following reports of abuse and harassment towards Ipswich’s African community.
Danice claimed that she had been personally told about an African boy in the community – completely unrelated to the case – who had attempted to commit suicide after abuse and bullying directed at him in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Vyleen White (pictured) was allegedly stabbed outside Town Square Redbank Plains to steal her 2009 Hyundai Getz
Ms White’s daughter, Danica, has called for peace, claiming she was aware of 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 Noticeboard on Friday, Ms White thanked the community for the outpouring of support, but also addressed reports that some people had targeted African people because of their race.
She said that ‘IIf people really want to help our family, they can discourage any form of retaliation against people of the same race as the suspect.
“An innocent boy should not have been bullied to the point of committing suicide because of the color of his skin… stop attacking and start uniting, it will bring about change,” she said.
She added that if people wanted to “do something”, they should pressure politicians to take more action to curb the youth crime problem.
“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 media conference in Redbank Plains on Thursday with Queensland African Communities Council (QACC) chair Beny Bol OAM.
Vyleen White’s other daughter, Cindy Micaleff, comforts the victim’s husband, Victor
Queensland African Communities Council chairman Beny Bol said the families of the teenagers arrested in connection with Ms White’s case were “heartbroken” and felt “judged and misunderstood”.
She advocated that the community should not react angrily towards innocent families.
“Mama’s legacy will live on in peace. “She was never one to be biased, she always looked for the best in people,” she said.
Bol said he was “moved” by Ms Micallef’s decision to join him in calling for peace and unity.
“We are united and we want to ensure that no other family goes through the same pain again,” he said.
“This is not about race or religion, we are here because if someone in our community – and I’m talking about the Australian community – and they care and they are grieving and they want to see Vyleen’s legacy shine, then we need to join us . You must be with us.
“The best way we can honor her legacy is by preaching peace, unity, justice and responsibility, and ensuring that those who do wrong are held individually accountable.”
Four other teenage boys, two aged 16 and two aged 15, have also been charged with unlawful use of a vehicle in connection with the alleged theft of Ms White’s car.
Mr Bol said the families of the teenagers arrested in connection with Ms White’s alleged murder and the theft of her car were “heartbroken” and felt “judged and misunderstood”.
“People don’t know what they’re going through,” he said. “They came (to Australia) because of their children, they wanted a future for their children.
“These are parents and families who want to see everyone happy, live in peace, and want to see children grow up in peace and enjoy life… they feel so powerless and confused.”
Local woman Melissa Halliday visits a supermarket memorial on Tuesday as residents call on the government to tackle youth crime
Mr Bol said since Ms White’s death, African-Australians in places further afield than Ipswich have received “a lot of verbal abuse” and troll attacks on social media.
The attacks included people saying ‘go back’, ‘you are monkeys’, ‘you shouldn’t be in this country’ and ‘pack up all your things and go back to your country’.
Ms Micallef said she had spoken to families of African descent who were “afraid to take their children to school” after the attack on her mother.
“You’re always going to get rogue criminals,” she said, but called on Queensland Premier Steven Miles to take stronger action on crime prevention.
“He promised to protect the community and make changes,” she told the news conference. ‘There is no substance in what he says.
“If this government doesn’t make change, we’re going to bring in someone to make the changes we need.”
Peter Garang Kooch, president of the South Sudanese Community Association of Queensland (SSCAQ), agreed there had been a spike in aggression against 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 to police in the Ipswich area of harassment incidents.
“There has been verbal abuse and some (people) threaten to attack physically, so they (community members) had to run away for their safety,” Mr Kooch told Daily Mail Australia.
“Now everyone in my community is afraid that something will happen to us in a shopping center or meeting place – women and children are especially afraid.”
Mr Kooch said that, as in all communities, killing is condemned within South Sudanese culture.
He said his community had been devastated by what allegedly happened to Ms White and the resulting racism had been saddening and disappointing.
“As human beings, when something like this happens, everyone feels sad,” he said.
“We are all Australian, no matter the color of our skin or where we come from.
‘In every community there is good and bad. We cannot generalize. When a crime is committed, it must be kept separate from the individual’s family and from his community.
‘We must let the law take its course. Anyone who takes the law into their own hands must be responsible for what they have done.”