Source : Perth Now news
A children’s art teacher has apologised for a racist tirade in which she told a driver to “go back to China” at a Bunnings carpark in Melbourne.
Alice Krause confronted the couple in the carpark of a Bunnings in Hawthorn, following a traffic dispute between the motorists shortly beforehand.
While in the carpark, Ms Krause tapped on the window of the couple’s car and yelled to the man, “that’s not how you drive in this country”, “you filthy”, and “go back to China”.
When a bystander stepped in to question her behaviour and say she was “racist”, she replied, “F***ing yes I am.”.
The incident was all caught on camera, with vision soon spreading online and the woman being quickly identified.
Speaking to 7News, Ms Krause said she was not a racist but her words and actions were “extremely threatening and racist”.
“I would genuinely like to apologise. … I don’t expect them to accept my apology,” she said.
“Even the words that I used that came out of my mouth were just foreign. … Tapping on their window, I’ve never done that, ever.”
Comments towards motorist were ‘cruel, degrading’ and ‘insulting’
In a statement issued via her business website, Ms Krause – an immigrant herself – apologised unreservedly to the couple, who have lived in Australia for nearly 30 years, and said her words were cruel and wrong.
“Saying ‘go back to China’ is cruel and degrading. I take full responsibility for saying this,” the Melbourne mum wrote.
“To the man I spoke to, I am deeply sorry. You deserved to be treated with dignity and respect.
“I insulted you and spoke to you as though you had no right to belong here. That was wrong.
“I also apologise to your family and loved ones for the hurt my conduct caused.”
Ms Krause said she would like to send a personal message to the man and say sorry in person, and that she has received backlash from graffiti slurs to death threats.
The man’s son Daniel Chen said the incident came about after Ms Krause tried to merge in front of the couple at a set of traffic lights.
“A few hundred metres later (my dad) turns into Bunnings where he tries to get a car park. The car from earlier pulls up and blocks him,” Mr Chen told 7News.
In her statement on Friday, Ms Krause also apologised to Chinese Australians, those with Chinese heritage, and to “everyone across Australia affected by my words”.
“Telling someone to ‘go back’ because of where I assumed they came from sends a racist message about who belongs in this country,” she said.
“I am sorry that I added to the racism people in our community already face.”
Ms Krause, who works as an art teacher, said her students had been let down and they “deserved a better example from me”.
“I understand how upsetting it can be to see someone your child knows and looks up to speak to another person with such disrespect,” she said.
“It is my responsibility to confront the prejudice behind my words and change how I behave.
“To the man I hurt, his family, and the students, families and communities affected by my words, I am truly sorry.”
