Hawthorn AFL racism complainants reveal themselves in open letter
Four-time Hawthorn premiership star Cyril Rioli is one of six complainants in the Hawks’ AFL racism saga to publicly out themselves in an open letter.
Rioli, wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, ex-Hawthorn players Carl Peterson, Jermaine Miller-Lewis, as well as his partner Montanah Miller-Lewis, and former Hawks Indigenous manager Leon Egan have released a statement to the media via their lawyer Leon Zwier.
At least three other people who have made complaints during the racism investigation remain anonymous and are represented by other law firms.
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“We are some of the Indigenous families who endured racism at the Hawthorn Football Club,” the letter states.
“We were separated from our families. We were told an unborn child would ruin our futures.
“We were treated as special projects and control of our lives was taken from us. We told our truths in confidence, because we believed that it would bring change.”
The letter claims their confidence was betrayed and they “never asked for money”.
The six say they will take their case to the Australian Human Rights Commission and have threatened to go all the way to the federal court.
“But they will hear us one way or another,” the letter reads.
“We also believe that with the passing of time the Hawthorn Football Club will acknowledge that our suffering and pain was real.
“We reached an agreement with the AFL not out of fear, but strength, because the AFL finally apologised to all First Nations players for racism in football.”
At a late-night media conference on Tuesday, the AFL announced no adverse findings against Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan or Jason Burt over the Hawthorn racism allegations.
Clarkson, Fagan and Burt have all vehemently denied any wrongdoing since the allegations surfaced via an ABC report last September.