March 22, 2017

Australians Are Sharing Heartbreaking Stories Of Racism On New Hashtag #FreedomOfSpeech

The public responds to the government's changes to the Racial Discrimination Act.

Erin Rooney

Yesterday, which was also Harmony Day, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the government’s decision to change the Racial Discrimination Act in Australia to remove the words ‘insult’ and ‘offend’ and replace them with ‘harass’.

He explained that the decision to change section 18C of the RDA will encourage ‘free speech’, and added that “cartoonists like the late, great Bill Leak will no longer have to look over their shoulder.”

For those who don’t remember Bill Leak, he was the one who created this *charming* cartoon about Indigenous Dads.

The public has responded with outrage to the change, and the #FreedomOfSpeech hashtag on Twitter has encouraged people to come forward with their stories of racism.

Writer Benjamin Law started the hashtag in response to Turnbull’s decision.

To celebrate the Coalition tampering with the RDA on #HarmonyDay, let's share stories of racism with hashtag #FreedomOfSpeech. I'll start.
— Benjamin Law 羅旭能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) March 21, 2017

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 羅旭能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) March 21, 2017

Gold Coast, 21, man slams into my shoulder saying, "Fucking gook." I retaliated, but would've been bashed if not for mates. #FreedomOfSpeech
— Benjamin Law 羅旭能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) March 21, 2017

Last week a white Australian said about a speech I gave, "You speak better English than me and I've been here all my life." #FreedomOfSpeech
— Benjamin Law 羅旭能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) March 21, 2017

Others instantly came forward with their stories, and all are horrifying.

https://twitter.com/sharnatweets/status/844055503391014913

#Freedomofspeech – my 8 year old begging for skin bleaching because he was teased for being the colour of poo. I lost it that night.
— Su Dharmapala Voted Yes & #AI Chick (@SuDharmapala) March 21, 2017

Every time a dude tries to pick me up by saying Ni Hao & I have to pretend not to speak English so I can get the fuck away. #FreedomofSpeech
— Michelle Law 羅敏儀 (@ms_michellelaw) March 21, 2017

As a Greek Australian being called "wog" growing up made me feel

Worthless
Depressed
Isolated
Unsafe
Inferior
Unwelcomed#FreedomOfSpeech
— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) March 21, 2017

"You speak very good English. Where did you learn it?"

Said a well-known Australian politician trying to be nice to me.#FreedomofSpeech
— George Megalogenis (@GMegalogenis) March 21, 2017

A woman spitting onto my mother's face in front of Woolworths and telling her to go back to her country. I was six. #FreedomOfSpeech
— Dr Michelle Li (@michelle_li) March 21, 2017

Australian Olympian and former federal Senator Nova Peris even shared a horrifying letter which was addressed ‘Senator Nova Peris – Dirty Black Abbo’