- Alex Pearce’s pro-Palestine post outraged Jewish AFL supporters
- Caroline Wilson criticised the AFL for its handling of the situation
Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson has taken aim at the AFL for its handling of Alex Pearce’s controversial social media post, which caused offence to some in the Jewish community.
Last month, the Fremantle captain shared a post from Irish hip hop band Kneecap criticising Israel’s attacks on Palestinians.
The post read: ‘Let us be absolutely clear. The reason Kneecap is being targeted is simple – we are telling the truth, and our audience is growing. Those attacking us want to silence criticism of a mass slaughter.
‘They weaponize false accusations of antisemitism to distract, confuse, and provide cover for genocide.
‘We do not give a f*** what religion anyone practices. We know there are massive numbers of Jewish people outraged by this genocide just as we are.
‘What we care about is that governments of the countries we perform in are enabling some of the most horrific crimes of our lifetimes – and we will not stay silent.’
Fremantle captain Alex Pearce (pictured) shared a pro-Palestine post from Irish hip hop band Kneecap – and copped backlash from some Australian Jews
Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson has taken aim at the AFL for its handling of the situation
On Friday, Jewish AFL reporter Ronny Lerner asked Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir if Pearce would be making an apology to the Jewish community over the issue.
Longmuir replied: ‘I’m not going to sit here and talk to Pearcey.
‘I know the club’s had discussions with Pearcey. I wasn’t involved in those discussions, so I’ll leave that one.’
On Monday evening, Wilson slammed the league for not tackling the issue head-on.
‘No one has been prepared to talk about this, the AFL isn’t prepared to make a comment about this,’ she said on Seven’s The Agenda Setters.
‘[Fremantle CEO] Simon Garlick hasn’t been prepared to say anything publicly, nor Alex Pearce’s manager, Tim Hazel, who said he was out of reach last week, but he’s available now and he still doesn’t want to say anything.
‘Alex Pearce had a view, liked a couple of posts of the Irish band, Kneecap, and they’re strong Palestinian supporters.
‘I’m not taking a position on this, but I can tell you that there are many people in the AFL Jewish community who are very upset by the social media post put up by Alex Pearce.
Wilson said nobody at AFL headquarters or at the Dockers is prepared to comment on the controversial move by Pearce (pictured)
The Fremantle captain liked a post by Irish hip hop group Kneecap (pictured) who have been outspoken in their criticism of Israel’s attacks on Palestinians
‘Alex Pearce has been counselled; apparently he’s been explained away as being naive.
‘But as I say, there are people within the AFL who are very disappointed that, given the harsh penalties the AFL chose to place on some players, like those involved in Wacky Wednesday, that they’re not prepared to make a comment about this.
‘I’ll leave it at that.’
Wilson, speaking on 3AW last week, criticised the way the Dockers handled the affair.
‘The club has gone to ground about this,’ Wilson said.
‘It’s fascinating how everyone has run a million miles from this, including the Fremantle CEO, the player manager and now the Fremantle coach.’
