Racism Report 2003 - Zara

Page 18 Cases: Media Racism Report 200365666768697071Passers-by stopped to watch, it was an embarrassing situation. The VIELE staff member tried to calm the situation anddrew the taxi driver‘s attention to Ms. N.‘s disability. However, the taxi driver flew into even more of a rage.Afterwards a VIELE staff member attempted many times to contact the owner of the taxi company to clear up theincident with him - but without success. All possible excuses were offered as to why he was not available and therequest to call back („I‘ll be pleased to give him the message“) he never answered.Mr. R. works delivering newspapers during the night. The following incident happened: two people sittingin front of an apartment house door (one of them X., identity is known) prevented R. from entering the building todeliver the newspapers and make the racist remark, „Nigger go home!“ At the same time, without waiting for anysort of reaction from R., X punched him in the face. R. suffered a cut upper lip which he had treated at the GrazLandeskrankenhaus in the early morning. Mr. R. reported the incident to the police. X. also went to a hospital butthree days later. He claimed to be suffering from headaches as a result of punches from R. X. told the police that R.had first hit him and he had only defended himself. X. is already known to the police from similar incidents. Mr. R.was summoned to court as the accused. Helping Hands Graz put him in touch with a lawyer and accompanied himthrough the proceedings. Both R. and X. were charged with bodily harm. The court sentenced R. to a fine of 1,000Euros, X. to a fine of 200 Euros.After visiting a cinema four students were on their way home towards the main square in Graz. Two ofthem were speaking Croat. As a passing cyclist brushed against them one of the students said, „It‘s walking speedhere!“ The cyclist dismounted, jostled the man and said, „I‘ll call the police, then you‘ll see, you Yugo!“An Afro-American woman reported to Helping Hands Graz about difficulties in the town centre of Grazwhile her sister was on a visit. When the sisters entered exclusive shops they were ogled in a strange way and notserved. When they went for a coffee to the café „Erzherzog Johann“ and elderly lady spat in their coffee. The sisterwas so incensed by the „manners“ in Austria that she left the country earlier than planned.A female Afro-American artist who came to Graz as part of the 2003 Year of Culture entered a bistro latein the evening. She was not served by the proprietor on the grounds, „There‘s nothing here for Niggers.“Two students of Bosnian origin were speaking their first language in a tram in Graz. As an elderly lady camepast they politely offered her a seat. She answered brusquely, „Nah!“ During the journey she murmured, „The federalchancellor, he‘ll send you all back again. You‘ll see alright, you ...!“ The students tried to pay her no attention.A sales assistant at a department store chain reported to Helping Hands Graz that credit cards were notaccepted from people whose name ended with „ic“. When we enquired once again we were told that this is the officialpolicy of the department store.Ms. G. comes from Croatia and informed Helping Hands Graz that a mail order company only deliversgoods to „foreigners“ cash on delivery. Payment by postal order is no longer accepted. We enquired but received noanswer.Media72Koller was a guest on the „Promi-Millionenshow“ („Celebrity Millions Show“) with Armin AssingerDagmarZivilcourage und Anti-Rassismus-Arbeiton 26 May 2003 during prime time television on ORF 1. ZARA‘s attention was drawn to a statement by Ms. Koller byseveral ORF viewers. To the quiz question, „What tree is put to practical use in Africa?“ she answered, „The toothbrushtree“ and explained that the people in Africa, „the Niggers“, would use the twigs to clean their teeth. The presenterArmin Assinger did not contradict her and this choice of words remained unquestioned. ZARA wrote explanatoryletters of complaint to Dagmar Koller, Armin Assinger, the ORF Viewers‘ and Listeners‘ Council and the ORF GeneralDirector Monika Lindner. ZARA implied that Ms. Koller‘s comment was unintentionally expressed xenophobia. ZARAhowever also pointed out that the „Millionenshow“ is not broadcast live and that the ORF therefore would have hadthe opportunity not to broadcast this statement all over the country. Several exchanges of letters ensued.Dagmar Koller answered: „(...) Whoever has been in such a quiz show also knows the stress situation and knowsthat there are sometimes mistakes. As you yourselves quote that I first said „the Africans“ and obviously, aware thatthere are actually also „white Africans“, for clarification -I used the term „Nigger“. Indeed, most people understoodit correctly, otherwise from more than 1.2 million viewers there would not have been only two letters of complaint.