Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan said the reported racial abuse directed at NRL player Latrell Mitchell demonstrates the need for professional sports organisations, including clubs and codes, to work together to address spectator racism.
Majak Daw and Jamie Macmillan from the North Melbourne Football Club have helped launch Be Brave, Speak Up, a youth-led campaign to encourage young people to take a stand against racism.
A small group of young people from the not-for-profit youth group, The Huddle, took the opportunity to create a campaign they felt strongly about. Racism was the subject they wanted to discuss.
The timing was spot-on. As news broke yesterday that footballer Adam Goodes had again been racially abused during a weekend game, the Australian of the Year and AFL legend was placing hand on heart and declaring: “Racism. It Stops With Me”.
Mr Goodes and a colourful crew of supporters of all ages were at the SCG to shoot a Community Service Announcement (CSA) for the Australian Human Rights Commission’s anti-racism campaign.
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s Racism. It Stops With Me campaign and the Play by the Rules program have partnered to produce a powerful new TV Community Service Announcement (CSA) for sporting organisations to play at their events and to promote on their websites and through their social media forums.
Race Discrimination Commissioner Dr Helen Szoke has congratulated the Australian Football League’s response to an incident at a game between Collingwood and the Gold Coast at the MCG on the weekend where offensive comments were directed by a spectator towards Gold Coast Suns player Joel Wilkinson.
The Queensland Rugby League (QRL) and Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission are taking a coordinated, zero-tolerance approach to racism in the code, beginning with the finals in this year’s State of Origin series in Brisbane.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda says he is disappointed with the current focus on the International Olympic Committee rules, rather than on boxer Damien Hooper’s impressive achievements. “I do not believe that Damien should have to apologise for wearing the Aboriginal flag. He has admitted he broke a rule and as far as I am concerned that is adequate, however, I encourage the IOC to change their rules to allow for the recognition of indigenous peoples”.
