UPDATE: The Senate is set to vote this week on proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act. Any amendment to section 18C will give license to more racism in Australia and will only amplify the horrific experiences of racism shown below.
There’s still time to stop this happening. Share these stories and tweet at key Federal leaders Nick Xenophon, Jacqui Lambie, Richard Di Natale and Bill Shorten telling them you support them to block these damaging changes:
#FREEDOMOFSPEECH SHOULD NOT HURT PEOPLE. WE NEED YOU TO #SAVETHERDA
#FREEDOMOFSPEECH SHOULD NOT EMBOLDEN RACISTS. WE SUPPORT YOU TO #SAVETHERDA
WE CAN STOP RACISM & PROTECT #FREEDOMOFSPEECH. PLEASE #SAVETHERDA
22 March 2017
Today the Australian Government introduced a Bill to water down the Racial Discrimination Act — a law that’s in place to make sure that everyone in Australia is protected from harmful racism.
If passed, the changes could weaken the legal protections that we have against racism. In response, Benjamin Law took to Twitter to protest the changes, and thousands joined him to share their experiences of racism with the hashtag #FreedomofSpeech.
Here are some of the most powerful tweets we’ve seen so far. Warning: some of these stories might shock you.
1. The one that kicked it all off
At the age of 10, I was at the local pool as a group of white boys held my head underwater, laughing at me for being Asian. #FreedomOfSpeech
— Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw) March 21, 2017
2.
A woman on my bus told a young couple to “speak english or go back where they came from”. They were speaking Pitjantjatjara #FreedomofSpeech
— Sharna Bremner (@sharnatweets) March 21, 2017
3.
90s: spat on and taunted by a group of Italian kids. They forgot us Asians gave them pasta. How’s about a thank you?! #FreedomOfSpeech
— Faustina Agolley (@Faustinathefuzz) March 21, 2017
4.
It’s not until you call a white person “racist” that they’re ready to acknowledge words have power #FreedomofSpeech
— G i G i (@gacd86) March 21, 2017
5.
#FreedomofSpeech pic.twitter.com/41VYhmXsX6
— Pearson In The Wind (@LukeLPearson) March 21, 2017
6.
When secretly, quietly, racist comments are whispered to you about your mother’s people. Every. Bloody. Day. #FreedomofSpeech
— headstrong harriet (@cellogasms) March 22, 2017
7.
Being told to speak English or go home otherwise when I was on the phone to mom on the bus #FreedomofSpeech sorry I’m bilingual buddy!
— Erika Rasmussen (@erikarasmus) March 22, 2017
8.
Pasted around my Neighbourhood, the same group would later go on to firebomb Chinese restaurants. Including ours. #freedomofspeech#18Cpic.twitter.com/dic33inbFF
— Crispian Chan (@crispianchan) March 21, 2017
9.
Guy on twitter telling me the only reason I’m half intelligent, half attractive is “because of your white side” #FreedomofSpeech
— Shari L Sebbens (@sharileesebbo) March 21, 2017
10.
I was introduced to someone as “this is the cool abo I was talking about. Don’t worry she doesn’t steal” #FreedomOfSpeech
— Yeah but Nah (@Yeah_Nah_) March 21, 2017
11.
#FreedomofSpeech An Italian Sonnet by a half-Asian guy in Australia pic.twitter.com/5qykf9ft7V
— Lach (@lachbr) March 22, 2017
12.
Pro-tip: if you’ve never experienced racism before, you should take a (non-defensive) moment and listen to those who have. #FreedomOfSpeech
— Senthorun Raj (@senthorun) March 21, 2017
Again, there’s still time to stop this happening! Share these stories and tweet at key Federal leaders Nick Xenophon, Jacqui Lambie, Richard Di Natale and Bill Shorten telling them you support them to block these damaging changes:
#FreedomofSpeech should not hurt people. We need you to #SaveTheRDA
#FreedomofSpeech should not embolden racists. We support you to #SaveTheRDA
We can stop racism & protect #FreedomofSpeech. Please #SavetheRDA
And one last note from Benjamin…
And to all the sad, odd folks who tweeted race-hate to me and everyone else today, I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: pic.twitter.com/0zJG8w8NbM
— Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw) March 21, 2017
Want to know more? Take 2 minutes to read our explainer on the Racial Discrimination Act or check out our submission to the Inquiry into Freedom of Speech.
