SUE Wilkins, who was filmed racially abusing Sydney train passengers on a Central Coast line, has made a public apology via the Daily Telegraph.
She was arrested this evening at a train station and taken to Wyong Police Station. Police said that she would be charged with offensive conduct.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph this afternoon, the 55-year said her outburst was not targeted at anyone in particular — it was “basically anyone who looked at me”.
She said: “Everyone’s playing the race card. It wasn’t purely the Asian lady. It was Australians too. It was basically anybody that looked at me, they were a target.
“It was a combination of things. It was just frustration. I’ve been trying to get a job for over a year and I had my hopes pinned on this one job.”
The woman at the centre of a racist rant controversy.
Sue Wilkins, who is at the centre of the racist rant controversy.
The incident occurred when the passenger began mocking the language and facial features of an Asian woman on a Sydney to Newcastle train yesterday afternoon.
The incident was filmed by a passenger and posted on YouTube. The woman became angry at two young children when they didn’t give their seats up for her.
She then began to abuse other passengers, including a man who was sitting next to an Asian woman. “Who is this little jerk-off? He can only get a gook — he can’t even get a regular girlfriend. It is so sad,” she said, as passengers groaned in disgust.
Who is this little jerk off he can only get a gook, he can’t even get a regular girlfriend — it is so sad
Wilkins said today “I made a comment to the mother about her children sitting on the seats and she totally disagreed. I thought it was a horrid example to set for these children. I found it mind-numbing that everyone was agreeing with her.
“Then everything escalated and the guys started filming me. When you’re at your wits’ end it just takes any little trigger. It was the last straw.
“I was scammed big-time on RSVP (a dating website). My husband and I separated for a while and I met someone online.
“I was called white trash earlier in the week so I know it’s not nice. But it’s only names. It’s not like I’m murdering anyone.
The woman pulls the sides of her eyes as she abuses as Asian woman calling her a “gook”.
Sue Wilkins pulls the sides of her eyes as she abuses as Asian woman, calling her a “gook”. Picture: Video still from YouTube
“You know the old adage sticks and stones. At the end of the day they are just names.
“I think it was just in my head. So many people have been complaining about Asians in Australia lately. A friend of mine is trying to get into the property market but she was saying all the wealthy Asians are coming out to Australia and buying property.”
Ms Wilkins said an Asian nurse at her husband’s nursing home has “got it in for him”.
“This lady on the train has nothing to do with it but it was like a red rag to a bull,” she said.
“It’s not a pleasant thing to watch. It’s ugly.
VIDEO: THE MAN WHO TRIED TO CALM THE SITUATION
“I want to make a public apology. It was ugly and uncalled for, such an outburst. But people don’t know the reasons behind things.
I would love to take her for coffee or lunch or apologise.”
After she caused a scene inside the carriage, police spoke to the woman when she alighted at Strathfield in Sydney’s west. She now is facing charges for her rant.
“There were police patrolling from a local area command,” police transport command Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell told reporters.
“They were there for another matter, unaware of the full circumstances of this situation.”
Police spoke to Wilkins but decided to let her “go about her journey”, Mr Mitchell said.
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