Mildur Calls for Calm After Two 12-Year-Old Boys Were Hit by a Car
In Mildura, in the Australian state of Victoria, community leaders called on residents to remain calm following an incident in which a pickup truck struck two 12-year-old Indigenous boys. The children were riding a moped and sustained serious injuries, according to ABC News Australia.
The incident occurred on the evening of August 6 in the Langtree Mall pedestrian zone. During a court hearing in Mildura on August 12, it was revealed that Andrew Brian, a 56-year-old resident of Hol-Golu, allegedly chased the boys, believing they were involved in vandalism at his partner’s real estate agency. However, the court heard that the children were not involved in any offenses that evening. Brian was released on bail pending a hearing in December.
Following the incident, racist and violent comments proliferated on social media. Some of the posts blamed the children and condoned the driver’s actions. Kylie Degenhardt, executive director of the Malli District Aboriginal Services, stated that members of the Indigenous community fear for their children. According to her, some young Indigenous people have become afraid of cars—particularly large pickup trucks—since the incident.
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Mildura Mayor Ali Cooper called the situation a crisis and acknowledged that youth crime is a real problem for the city. She urged people to discuss their anger constructively rather than resorting to unacceptable comments on social media. Deputy Mayor Helen Gili stated that harming children is unacceptable, as is calling the suspect a hero.
Victoria State Police have stepped up patrols in central Mildura and urged people not to spread rumors and misinformation online while the court proceedings are ongoing. Moderators of local Facebook groups reported that they had to disable comments on certain posts and delete racist, threatening, and inappropriate messages.
A gathering for healing, cleansing, and connection was held at Apex Park, where participants took part in a traditional smoke ceremony. Representatives of the Assembly of First Nations of Victoria urged residents to rely on officially verified information and not to spread claims that could deepen divisions within the community.
