Viral video shows teenage boy racially abusing staff at Folks Gallery cafe

A teenage boy has been filmed racially abusing Asian staff at a Canberra cafe, labelling them ‘viruses’ and demanding they clean up his spit.

Police have been made aware of a shocking viral video that shows a school-aged boy racially abusing staff at an Canberra cafe.

The video, taken by a staff member at the Folks Gallery cafe in Dickson on Friday, shows the caucasian boy repeatedly calling the Asian workers “viruses” before spitting on an outdoor table.

The boy was clearly identifiable in the footage and was captured filming cafe staff himself while making racist references to their appearance.

“Look at her big forehead. Look at you. Yeah, get away, you viruses,” the boy says in the footage.

“Your face looks smooshed in. Stop filming me. What, are you filming the back of my head? You’ve already got my face.”

He then spits twice on an outdoor table outside the cafe and tells the staff member to “clean that up”.

Two girls standing on the footpath outside mock staff members while the boy makes an obscene gesture.

Folks Gallery managing director Vincent Chen said the incident unfolded when the teens started sitting on the chairs outside the cafe and didn’t order anything.

The teenager labelled cafe staff ‘viruses’ in a viral video.

The teenager also filmed the incident on his mobile phone.

The trouble started when they started smoking under the roof, were shown the no-smoking sign and were asked to stop.

They started jeering and abusing workers, so Mr Chen asked them to leave.

Mr Chen said the boy had privately apologised to him.

“That is all I wanted to see,” he posted on Facebook.

“I think they would have had their lessons learnt and be nicer. I am so loved by everyone who have been supportive.”

He said it was not his intention to escalate it into a “big drama”, but he just wanted people to be aware it wasn’t an isolated incident.

The group were asked to stop smoking outside the cafe.

Mr Chen has called for more information to educate the community about racism.

The ACT Chinese Australian Association said this type of “disgusting behaviours” must be publicly shamed.

“If they think it’s OK to behave like this, smoking in public place, ignored (sic) the signs and being abusive, they should be exposed and account for the consequences,” it said.

“Racial abusive behaviours must be stopped.

“We urge the government to work more closely and directly with the communities, listen and support the communities and promote awareness on what behaviours are not acceptable and could be punishable.”

A still from a video of a teenager racially abusing cafe workers in the ACT by labelling them 'viruses'.

ACT Policing said it was aware of the incident and the footage but the affected business and individuals had indicated they didn’t want to take the matter further.

“Racial vilification is a crime and unacceptable in our community,” it said in a statement.

“The ACT’s laws send a very clear message that such behaviour is not tolerated.

“ACT Policing supports a tolerant and inclusive society and encourages anyone who is the victim of racial vilification to report this crime to police on 131 444.”

Police said anyone found guilty of the serious vilification offence in the ACT faced fines of up to $8000.

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