Anti-racist street signs slammed in wealthy suburbs
Residents of some of Australia’s wealthiest suburbs have called for the removal of “woke” anti-racism street signs, despite residents in other areas with the signs having zero complaints.
Red signs with the phrase “#RacismNOTWelcome” displayed in white text were erected in several wealthy eastern suburbs within the Woollahra Local Government Area (LGA), including Paddington, Rose Bay, Bellevue Hill and Double Bay.
The initiative started by Woollahra Council as part of a city-wide campaign last year to raise awareness of the issue.
But, local residents have complained that the signs inadvertently make it seem like the suburb is racist, while Liberal councillors have demanded the signs be ripped down.
“Locals say the signs give a false impression that Woollahra locals are racists, while there has been no evidence presented to that fact,” a motion before the local council read.
“The signs do not properly represent our community and are simply an appropriation from some other community, or other local government area, where racism may be rife.”
Appearing on 2GB radio on Tuesday, Woollahra councillor Mary-Lou Jarvis said, “Lecturing people with street signs is not going to cut it.
“I was overwhelmed from people around the area when the signs went up. There was an incredible diversity in the people that contacted me.”
Councillor Jarvis shared one example of a Jewish woman who reached out and asked for the signs to be taken down.
“She was the first that said to me, ‘This is woke-ism gone mad.’
“This is all about us taking personal responsibility.”
Three Liberal councillors initially proposed for all 12 signs to be removed from the LGA, which was followed by a compromise to move the signs from residential streets to public areas such as parks and transport hubs.
However, the compromise failed after Councillor Jarvis insisted the signs be removed from the area entirely.
“This has divided the council, it’s divided the community,” she said. “It’s wokeism writ large and has created division where there wasn’t any before. This is all about making people feel good rather than taking actions to reduce racism.”
Greens councillor Nicola Grieve said she was “flabbergasted” by the opposition to the signs and that there was definitely racism in the area.
“I think it’s completely obscene and absurd. There is clearly racism in this electorate: I’ve heard it,” she said.
“These signs send a message that we are standing up for people of colour and don’t tolerate racism.”
When the issue was debated on Monday night, Woollahra Municipal Council voted 8-7 to keep the signs in their current locations.
The #RacismNOTWelcome street sign campaign, spearheaded by former Socceroo player Craig Foster, began in Sydney’s inner west before spreading to other council areas, including Woollahra.
I asked @Craig_Foster today if opposing the #racismNOTwelcome road signs in @woollahramc indicates to him that racism does exist? This is what he had to say:
"Some or all councillors here say there is NO racism here...well...we should beg to differ"#Woollahra #Sydney pic.twitter.com/GJFaJfLnsS— Nabil Al Nashar (@NabilAlNashar) February 15, 2022
Foster shared his disappointment at the backlash with The Sydney Morning Herald, telling the publication that the signs send a powerful message to everyone entering a council area that racism won’t be tolerated.
“A minority saying they feel confronted by the very word ‘racism’ is as old as Australia itself,” he said.
“It is a disappointment for our whole community when any LGA demonstrates an unwillingness to commit to a more truthful conversation.”
Image: @racismnotwelcome (Instagram)