Strangers step in after woman unleashes racist rant on bus

Public transport racism strikes again.
By Johnny Lieu  on 
Strangers step in after woman unleashes racist rant on bus
A racist rant on a bus is the latest in a long line. Credit: 9 News

For all its benefits to society, public transport is a relative hotbed for racists to spew hate in a public setting.

In Adelaide, Australia, a woman is being sought by authorities after she was filmed yelling expletives at an Asian mother and her child on a bus on Saturday afternoon.

"They're not f*cking people, they're not f*cking Australian and she didn't pay for her f*cking ticket, dickhead," the woman shouted at passengers on camera.

"Literally they're f*cking invading our country, can't you see it, f*cking Chinese people f*cking everywhere," she added.

Two commuters, Jenny and Clive Starr, stepped in to defend the mother and her child. Clive Starr called the woman a "disgrace" -- something which she didn't take to kindly to.

Mashable Top Stories
Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.
Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!

"Disgrace? You're a disgrace. Letting these people into f*cking Australia, eh," she fired back.

The intervening couple told 9 News that they tried to tell the woman to stop.

"We thought if we got up and confronted her and blocked her off and just tell her 'enough,' just stop now, no more," Jenny Starr told the news outlet.

The intervening couple helped to comfort the victims after they got off the bus.

"They huddled together and assured each other that it was OK ... and I went up later and apologised and asked them if they were all right, and they were OK," Starr said.

It's the latest in a long run of racist incidents on public transport, which seem to be increasing in frequency. It's yet another thing that doesn't show any signs of abating in a "post-truth" world, and it's why, sometimes, riding the bus is the worst.

Mashable Image
Johnny Lieu

Mashable Australia's Web Culture Reporter.Reach out to me on Twitter at @Johnny_Lieu or via email at jlieu [at] mashable.com


Recommended For You

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 2
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'


Android users, beware! Text message stealing malware is targeting smartphones to gain access to users' data
Android logo on smartphone

Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 2
a phone displaying Wordle

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!