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Belgium presenter’s tearful plea on racist attacks goes viral
BRUSSELS, Sept 7, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A black woman who presents the weather
forecast on a Belgium public broadcaster posted an emotional video Thursday
which quickly went viral calling out the torrent of racist abuse she has
received since appearing on television.
In the five-minute video which was posted to Facebook and received more
than half a million views in a matter of minutes, Cecile Djunga said she had
decided to respond to the attacks because people “don’t think that racism
exists in Belgium.”
“But it’s not true,” said Djunga, who reads the weather on the French-
language public service broadcaster RTBF. “Being told to ‘go back to your
country’ is not funny.”
“I am Belgian. I am already in my country,” she added, close to tears.
Djunga said that while she received abuse because of the colour of her
skin, many other people were subject to vicious attacks online.
“There are people who are fat, who are Muslim, who are Arab, who are
ginger, who wear glasses… anyone can be persecuted on social media, this
has to stop. Online harassment really affects you,” said Djunga, who is also
a comedian.
The head of RTBF Jean-Paul Philippot said that the broadcaster supported
Djunga and was angered by the abuse that she had received.
“Racism is a crime. It is punishable by law in Belgium,” he said.
“We will respect the law and foresee taking action against these people.
There is no impunity for racism,” he added.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0814 hrs