This Dutch Teen Is Being Praised For His Truthful Reporting Of Israeli Football Hooligans Inciting Violence
16-year-old Bender was one of the few journalists on-the-ground when Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv fans began inciting violence and attacking locals following the match.
A 16-year-old Dutch journalist has gone viral for his accurate on-the-ground reporting of Israeli football hooligans’ violence in Amsterdam following the Europa League football match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax on Nov. 7.
Benjamin Julius Pearson, known as “Bender”, is a young YouTuber and journalist, known for his interviews and coverage of protests and public events to engage with demonstrators.
Bender was one of the few journalists on-the-ground when Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv fans began inciting violence and attacking locals following the match.
He captured Israeli football hooligans intimidating people and stealing metal poles from building sites and throwing them at police cars.
He was also threatened by the hooligans, who told him to turn off his camera for his own safety.
Despite his young age, Bender insisted on continuing to cover the events as he was the only journalist reporting there at the moment.
“As usual, we are the only media that is present right now,” he said.
Bender’s reporting has gained massive support on social media as he documented Israeli fans provoking people in Amsterdam, which led to people attacking them later, unlike mainstream media.
Mainstream media had instead called the events “antisemitic” and focused on the Israeli fans being attacked without mentioning they had incited violence with anti-racist slurs and actions before, during and after the match.
Cherry Mohamed
Kassy Cho
Cherry Mohamed
