Top musician a 'victim of racism'

Famed Australian Aboriginal singer Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was refused a taxi after a performance in Melbourne last night. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

The blind singer, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, is seen performing in October. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

ABORIGINAL stars have rallied to support racism victim Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu following the Melbourne cab controversy.

"I'm disgusted, I'm shocked, I'm shattered," popular singer Archie Roach said.

"Gurrumul is a national treasure. To be treated this way is an absolute disgrace."

Gurrumul, an award-winning blind singer who has performed for the Queen, was refused a taxi ride after playing a show with Missy Higgins in St Kilda on Tuesday.

His managers, Michael Hohnen and Michael Grose, say they had asked a taxi driver to wait for Gurrumul and two friends outside the Palais Theatre.

Mr Hohnen said the taxi driver was happy to wait, but when he saw Gurrumul emerge from the venue, he refused and drove away.

"When the cabbie saw Gurrumul coming, he said, 'Nah, mate,' and drove off," Mr Hohnen said.

"This happens to us a lot. The cabbies see Gurrumul, they feel uncomfortable for whatever reason, I can only speculate, and they don't stop."

Mr Grose said: "I can only say that ... he saw the colour of Gurrumul's skin and said 'I'm not taking that person'."

Roach and former Yothu Yindi frontman Mandawuy Yunupingu - ejected from a St Kilda bar in a racism incident 20 years ago - were furious at the treatment given to Gurrumul.

Roach said: "He is a beautiful human being who has travelled the world.

"He has probably been driven in better vehicles and limousines than a stinking Melbourne taxi."

Yunupingu said: "It's very disappointing we still live with a portion of the Australian community displaying the same behaviour that saw me refused service at the Catani Bar in St Kilda in the early 1990s.

"It's time we moved on as a nation.

"It's almost unthinkable that ... a high profile national artist like Gurrumul is refused service by taxis in Melbourne."

Gurrumul, a two-time ARIA Award winner lauded by Sir Elton John and Sting, bunkered down in a recording studio, before playing another show with Higgins at the Palais.

Higgins said in a statement: "As a proud Melburnian, it makes me both sad and angry.

"I'm sure the vast majority of our cab drivers would feel the same way.

"If this was a racist action it goes to show we still have a ways to go with racism and reconciliation in our country."

Taxi inquiry boss Prof Allan Fels said the standard of service needed to be lifted to prevent racial discrimination.

The Victorian Taxi Directorate is investigating and, if caught, the driver could face a minimum $305 fine for fare refusal.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Top musician a 'victim of racism'

Dengan url

http://ichancibby.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-musician-victim-of-racism.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Top musician a 'victim of racism'

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Top musician a 'victim of racism'

sebagai sumbernya