*GOFUNDME LINK FOR CHOL ACHIEK: www.gofundme.com/f/donate-funeral-funds-for-chol-ayen-achiek

“Chol was an intelligent and warm-hearted child who could light up the room with his smile and loving nature. We remember him for how he cared for those around him, especially his respect for the elders in his life.”
These words were written by little Chol Achiek’s mum, Ayen.
Ayen’s gorgeous 12-year-old son was murdered in Cobblebank, Victoria, on Saturday. Chol is the 17th Australian child killed this year. His 15-year-old friend Dau Akueng was killed just 200 metres away from him by the same violent thugs.
The lads were walking home from a basketball game when they were brutalised by a gang wearing masks.
In the wake of their murders, there’s been abhorrent levels of victim-blaming, decentering, minimising and racism across social media.
These attacks have completely dehumanised two young lads doing everyday what millions of Australian children their age do.
If they were white, this discourse would be so damn different.
And mass media attacks on marginalised and diverse communities has played a huge role in how many in our community people from overseas.
There’s one thing all of us can do right now for Chol (And for Dau, whose post will follow). We can donate to their respective fundraisers. We can join their vigils. We can say their names. We can lobby for change and an end to violence and racism.
Mostly, we can read the words of those affected most by their deaths.
“His sudden loss at just age 12 has left us numb with a hole that we know will never be filled because Chol was truly a special person with so much life ahead of him,” Ayen says.
Please consider donating to the GFM (link in bio and below) and please remember, this little Australian boy is someone worthy of our care and our empathy – as are his family, friends and community.
COL ACHIEK MATTERS! ❤️

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