NZ-born rugby league player Cruz Topai-Aveai has explained his reasoning for shouting at the police, before jumping on a police car during a 'Black Lives Matter' protest in Brisbane on Saturday.
Video obtained by the Daily Telegraph shows Christchurch-born Topai-Aveai holding onto the bullbar of a police vehicle in a foul-mouthed tirade at the officers, who were attempting to reverse.
After the vehicle got away, Topai-Aveai chased it and climbed on top of the car. The video shows members of the public trying to pull Topai-Aveai off and telling him to calm down.
He was taken away by police, but has been released, with a police spokesman telling The Sunday-Mail no arrests or charges were made in relation to the rally.
"Know the story behind the video, you didn't see the part where I bust a locked door open to escape, so I could calm down," Topai-Aveai has written on his Facebook page.
"I weeped on my brother Jalen Reweti's shoulder and had his beautiful partner Tupu there to help calm me.
"I am furious, I am angry, I am young, I am dumb... I am whatever you think I am.
"Most of all, I am fed up of police abusing their privilege to wear their uniform [sic]."
He went into more detail on his Instagram page.
"This is for my brothers and sisters who have been oppressed for 100s of years by the white man," he wrote. "They've treated us like dogs for centuries, they've painted us with dirty brushes and they've created a system where only the white survive.
"Do your research mother f***ers. If you are offended that I swear and miss the message... you, sir, are apart of the f***en problem.
"I love Christ. He lives within me which makes me fearless to all men. Only God I fear.
"This was hurt and pain for my brothers and sisters who have had to suffer years of pain under the white law! THIS IS MY PROTEST AT A 'PEACEFUL PROTEST'. Love it or leave it, I don't care.
"This is me, this is the Cruz the system designed.
"They want to treat us and our beloved ancestors with cruelty and disrespect like we are caged animals... I'll give you a caged animal."
Topai-Aveai was a top-30 listed player for the Cronulla Sharks, before leaving the club last month "to be with family".
He attended Shirley Boys' High School in Christchurch, before joining the South Sydney Rabbitohs junior team.
Topai-Aveai then moved to the Sharks, where he had been until last month, although he never played NRL.
