People have taken to Twitter to share their experiences of racism in Australia under the hashtag #FreedomOfSpeech, following the government’s announcement it would move forward with plans to overhaul section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.
The prompt to use the hashtag was started by the Australian writer Benjamin Law, who asked people to share stories of racism to “celebrate the Coalition tampering with the RDA on #HarmonyDay”.
Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw)To celebrate the Coalition tampering with the RDA on #HarmonyDay, let's share stories of racism with hashtag #FreedomOfSpeech. I'll start.
March 21, 2017
Law kicked things off by sharing a story of being held underwater by “white boys” while they laughed at him for being Asian.
Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw)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
March 21, 2017
He also shared multiple stories of racially motivated incidents he had endured growing up as an Asian Australian.
Other Twitter users were quick to jump on the hashtag with stories ranging from workplace discrimination to verbal and physical abuse and online harassment.
Nick Names Nuts (@nicknamesnuts)@mrbenjaminlaw My ex was called "gook" and had a dead fish chucked at her out of a car window when she was in high school #FreedomOfSpeech
March 21, 2017
gay wine aunt (@divydogs)Two months ago I was walking down the street when a guy shouted out "fuck you, you chinese bitch get out of my country" #FreedomOfSpeech
March 21, 2017
Nova Peris OAM (@NovaPeris)
#FreedomofSpeech pic.twitter.com/zpafGj5fil
March 21, 2017
Giselle Wakatama (@GiselleWak)Under 18C what happens to person who yelled 'A black f****ing mum w a white f****ing baby -that's what wrong w this world' #FreedomofSpeech
March 21, 2017
Health Policy Guy (@GidMK)Was once spat on outside a synagogue by a man who muttered "fucking Jew" before walking away #FreedomofSpeech
March 21, 2017
Mariam Veiszadeh (@MariamVeiszadeh)
#FreedomofSpeech pic.twitter.com/uwWEfOxUCP
March 21, 2017
Eb (@Ebswearspink)Being trolled for like six days around Invasion Day because I wrote something positive about Aboriginal people #freedomofspeech
March 21, 2017
Ketan Joshi (@KetanJ0)Recently (Jan): being told that I smell surprisingly good, for someone of my background #FreedomOfSpeech
March 21, 2017
The hashtag also inspired contributions from white Australians who were quick to acknowledge the ingrained racism within Australian culture.
Alex McKinnon (@mckinnon_a)When I was 10 my best mate told me he "didn't like Aboriginals", but he couldn't say why. They start em quick in Australia #FreedomofSpeech
March 21, 2017
Scandrof (@scandrof)My Dad walks up to complete strangers who are not white & tries to guess their country of origin. Humiliating! #FreedomOfSpeech
March 21, 2017
The proposed overhaul to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act would see the words “offend” and “insult” removed and replaced with “harass”. Malcolm Turnbull said the changes were “an issue of values – free speech”.
The government’s announcement was met with wide-ranging opposition, including from those within the Coalition government. The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, said changing racial discrimination laws was not a priority, while Coalition MPs in marginal seats expressed concerns about how the agenda would be received in their diverse electorates.
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