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.
Others instantly came forward with their stories, and all are horrifying.
Australian Olympian and former federal Senator Nova Peris even shared a horrifying letter which was addressed ‘Senator Nova Peris – Dirty Black Abbo’
She also shared some of the comments she’d received on her Facebook page.
