{"id":63251,"date":"2021-04-26T05:50:06","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T05:50:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=63251"},"modified":"2021-04-26T11:58:13","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T11:58:13","slug":"latrells-powerful-takedown-of-racist-trolls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=63251","title":{"rendered":"Latrell's powerful takedown of racist trolls"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Sydney fullback Latrell Mitchell says he hopes his stand against racism will inspire his NRL counterparts to "feel comfortable enough" to call out online abuse.<\/p>\n

Mitchell has been at the centre of a number of targeted racist attacks on social media, which the 23-year-old admitted nearly forced him to walk away from the game last year.<\/a><\/p>\n

Just last week two men were arrested for allegedly abusing the South Sydney star on social media<\/a>. The men were taken to local police stations and both charged with use of a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.<\/p>\n

Speaking to the media today, Mitchell admitted he was relieved to see the issue of racism being taken seriously.<\/p>\n

"I've been copping this all my life since I was an eight-year-old kid. My ancestors before me have and nothing's changed," Mitchell told reporters.<\/p>\n

\"Latrell<\/p>\n

"I've always aired them out on social media as everyone has seen and I think that's what they wanted to get a kick out of.<\/p>\n

"I was just wasting some energy by doing that.<\/p>\n

"I grew up and mature a little bit through that period and said enough is enough.<\/p>\n

"With these two messages, for instance, I had enough. I sent it off to my management and straight away the support was outstanding. How the Police have come into it, I can't thank them enough also.<\/p>\n

"It (the arrest) is an outcome that I've wanted for a very long time for people to be accountable for their actions and their words.<\/p>\n

"Just for you to sit there and comment on a game, it's just a game of rugby league. But this happens in every society and I want people to know that you have to call it out."<\/p>\n

\"Cook's<\/p>\n

The former Rooster and two-time premiership winner said he hopes a new "process" will be put in place to encourage other NRL players to speak up.<\/p>\n

"This is the standard that I've set and for anyone in the rugby league community or just in the general community just to call it out," Mitchell added.<\/p>\n

"I just wanted to set a process now … to make the boys in the NRL, feel comfortable enough if they receive these messages and to call it out.<\/p>\n

"There's going to be so much support, I back you.<\/p>\n

"I'm doing it for all of us players, it's just the thing that we have to do now."<\/p>\n

He said it wasn't just about protecting NRL players, but rather standing up for members of the general public, who mightn't respond well to online abuse.<\/p>\n

"I think people are going to think twice now, because we're going to work towards a process being in place for us rugby league players," he said.<\/p>\n

"It's not even just the rugby league community we need to worry about, it's about the general public, it's about our wellbeing.<\/p>\n

"It only takes that one message for someone not as strong as me … for them to go and do some self-harm. All it takes is one word and today I'm taking a stand on it and I want everyone out there to know they can stand up to it, too.<\/p>\n

"I just don't want to be known as just a rugby league player."<\/p>\n

If you or anyone you know is suffering, please contact<\/em><\/strong> Lifeline<\/em><\/strong><\/a> on 13 11 14.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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