Stories of racially motivated incidents flood social media after government announces it will move forward with plans to weaken race hate laws

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

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.

Law kicked things off by sharing a story of being held underwater by “white boys” while they laughed at him for being Asian.

Turnbull pursues 18C changes despite warning over marginal seats Read more

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

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

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

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

Health Policy Guy (@GidMK) Was once spat on outside a synagogue by a man who muttered "fucking Jew" before walking away #FreedomofSpeech

Eb (@Ebswearspink) Being trolled for like six days around Invasion Day because I wrote something positive about Aboriginal people #freedomofspeech

Ketan Joshi (@KetanJ0) Recently (Jan): being told that I smell surprisingly good, for someone of my background #FreedomOfSpeech

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

Scandrof (@scandrof) My Dad walks up to complete strangers who are not white & tries to guess their country of origin. Humiliating! #FreedomOfSpeech

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.