Attacked … Juan Gabriel Palacios still bears the scars of a racist attack at Central West Plaza earlier this month. 65837 Picture: SARAH MATRAY
By Charlene Gatt
A YARRAVILLE man was left shaken last week after a racially motivated attack at a West Footscray car park.
Juan Gabriel Palacios, 31, drove to Central West Plaza just after midday on 5 June to buy some blankets for a winter appeal at Forges.
Mr Palacios had just parked his car and was about to get out when the offender attacked.
“I parked my car and he jumped in and started to yell at me, and I just didn’t know what was going on,” he said.
“He punched me and was saying that I’d hit his car and that was not right.
“He hit me on the head and knocked me down, then he started to kick me with his shoes in my head, in my body. It was disgusting, I was in shock.
“He said that I was Indian. He was calling me swear words and saying bloody Indian, saying ‘you people can’t drive’ and ‘curry muncher’. I’m not even from India – I was born in Central America.”
Some passers-by saw the attack and broke up the scene. Mr Palacios said the man then got into his car and drove off.
“The worst thing was that his wife and a little child was in his car who saw everything. It was such a bad example.”
Mr Palacios was treated by ambulance officers for bruises to his face and back.
He spent last week at a friend’s house in St Albans, because he was too scared to go home.
“I can’t stay at home at the moment,” he said.
“I’m a 31-year-old man and this is a first for me.
“This was racist and it happens all the time, people get attacked for small things.
“This just makes my life miserable. I’m with a friend, because I couldn’t go home, I don’t feel safe. I’m scared to drive.”
Mr Palacios said he reported the attack to the police, and believes some witnesses may have video footage or photos of the attack.
The attack occurred in the same week a 16-year-old boy became Victoria’s youngest convicted murderer over the death of Indian student Nitin Garg last year.
The teen is facing a maximum life sentence in jail.
