<p class="title">Belgium's media and political class on Friday called for change after two high-profile cases of racism rocked the kingdom, raising troubling questions about white attitudes a few weeks before local elections.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The incidents involve Cecile Djunga, a weather presenter with state broadcaster RTBF, who published a video online this week after more than a year of racist abuse; and a report by VRT television about a Flemish far-right group whose leader has warned members to "be ready for combat."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Both made headline news across online media and in the national press on Friday. The daily <span class="italic"><em>Le Soir</em></span>'s front page was black, with white text denouncing white attitudes to people of different ethnic backgrounds and foreigners.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Its chief editorialist wrote: "We can't kick this into the long grass anymore. Cecile Djunga's cry for help and the VRT report make it clear: great danger lies ahead and it's urgent to respond."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Djunga, who is also a comedian, explained that she decided to go public after a woman called her at work to tell her that she does not look good on television, that she's "too black." Her employers say they are taking a stand against racism, too.</p>.<p class="bodytext">VRT's report focused on the Flemish nationalist "Schild en Vrienden," or Shield and Friends in English.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Photos of leader Dries Van Langenhove holding an automatic weapon have appeared on social media. Van Langenhove, who has made references to a "war of races," has also appeared in pictures online alongside Belgium's hard-line migration minister, Theo Francken.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Francken told RTBF Friday that he was shocked by the report. He said he knew of the group, "but I didn't know that there were such extreme elements in this organization."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Asked whether his migration policies contribute to such attitudes, Francken said: "Racism is for idiots and all those people who think I'm a hero and who do these kinds of things, write these kinds of things, are idiots."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Prime Minister Charles Michel said he condemns "all forms of racism and extremism. There's no place in our society for this kind of attitude." </p>
<p class="title">Belgium's media and political class on Friday called for change after two high-profile cases of racism rocked the kingdom, raising troubling questions about white attitudes a few weeks before local elections.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The incidents involve Cecile Djunga, a weather presenter with state broadcaster RTBF, who published a video online this week after more than a year of racist abuse; and a report by VRT television about a Flemish far-right group whose leader has warned members to "be ready for combat."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Both made headline news across online media and in the national press on Friday. The daily <span class="italic"><em>Le Soir</em></span>'s front page was black, with white text denouncing white attitudes to people of different ethnic backgrounds and foreigners.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Its chief editorialist wrote: "We can't kick this into the long grass anymore. Cecile Djunga's cry for help and the VRT report make it clear: great danger lies ahead and it's urgent to respond."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Djunga, who is also a comedian, explained that she decided to go public after a woman called her at work to tell her that she does not look good on television, that she's "too black." Her employers say they are taking a stand against racism, too.</p>.<p class="bodytext">VRT's report focused on the Flemish nationalist "Schild en Vrienden," or Shield and Friends in English.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Photos of leader Dries Van Langenhove holding an automatic weapon have appeared on social media. Van Langenhove, who has made references to a "war of races," has also appeared in pictures online alongside Belgium's hard-line migration minister, Theo Francken.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Francken told RTBF Friday that he was shocked by the report. He said he knew of the group, "but I didn't know that there were such extreme elements in this organization."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Asked whether his migration policies contribute to such attitudes, Francken said: "Racism is for idiots and all those people who think I'm a hero and who do these kinds of things, write these kinds of things, are idiots."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Prime Minister Charles Michel said he condemns "all forms of racism and extremism. There's no place in our society for this kind of attitude." </p>