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CULTURE
How Vinícius Jr. Became a Tormentor of Racists After Hate Crime Trial
“ May other racists be afraid, ashamed, and hide in the shadows.”
Vinícius Júnior, a Brazilian soccer player who experienced racist taunting from fans last May, is striking back in his response to the hate crime trial’s verdict. “Many asked me to ignore it; many others said that my fight was in vain and that I should just ‘play football.’ But, as I’ve said, I’m not a victim of racism. I am a tormentor of racists. The first criminal conviction [for racist insults in a soccer stadium] in the history of Spain is not for me. It’s for all Black people. May other racists be afraid, ashamed, and hide in the shadows.”
According to the Magistrate Court of Valencia, this verdict established that the “three defendants insulted Vinícius with shouts, gestures, and chants referring to the colour of his skin.” They made “sounds and intimidating movements of monkeys,” which caused “the footballer feelings of frustration, shame, humiliation with the consequent undermining of his intrinsic dignity.” Consequently, they were sentenced to an 8-month jail sentence in Spain, banned from attending football stadiums for the next two years, and will be required to pay the cost of court proceedings. While their conviction is an unequivocal…
