News & Interviews
AllOneTogether for Refugee Week 2020
With 28.4% of the population born overseas and 49.1% of its constituents either born overseas or...
COVID-19 and Racism: A doctor responds…
The Australian Human Rights Commission recorded more complaints under the Racial Discrimination...
Meet Maker Mayek, Litigation Lawyer and Principal Solicitor at Mayek Legal
Maker Mayek is a litigation lawyer and the principal solicitor at Mayek Legal. Born in South...
Meet Sabina McKenna, Founder of the Where Are You From Project
Growing up in the inner city bayside of Melbourne, Sabina McKenna is a Melbourne-based curator,...
From around the Web
This is a curated list of news stories from various news outlets such as the ABC, SBS etc. The ECCV does not own or endorse any of the content of the stories.
‘Social cohesion is always under threat’
FROM THE INDIAN SUN: Racism has reared its ugly head during this coronavirus pandemic throughout the world. Victoria too did not lag behind with the Human Rights Commission stating that reports of racism and xenophobia have been a worrying trend throughout this pandemic.
Talking Refugee Week 2020 with Aleem Ali, CEO of Welcoming Australia
FROM MITCHELL’S FRONT PAGE: Aleem Ali, CEO of Welcoming Australia joined the program to talk about Refugee Week 2020.
I Am Not a Virus: Preliminary Findings of the COVID-19 Racism Survey
FROM DIVERSITY ARTS ALLIANCE: The Asian Australian Alliance, Diversity Arts Australia and Democracy in Colour have joined forces to collaborate on the COVID-19 Coronavirus Racism Incident Report Survey and to develop campaigns and artist-led projects to address #CoronaRacism.
Asian-Australian groups report surge in racist abuse, assaults during pandemic
FROM THE AGE: More than 300 people from Chinese or east Asian backgrounds have reported being racially abused, assaulted or harassed in public in Australia as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 racism: For every case, there are '10 more who remain silent'
The Age: Dr Ern Chang, who works at Family Doctors Highton, said it was the first time in 12 years he had experienced racism in Geelong, and called for #UnityOverFear amid the coronavirus pandemic in a Facebook post.
'Creeping normalisation of hate': Labor calls for national anti-racism campaign
From The Sydney Morning Herald: Pointing to the example of a News Corp columnist mocking the name of former race discrimination commissioner Tim Soutphommasane, Mr Giles will sound the alarm about a “creeping normalisation of hate and racism” in Australia.
Why I will never forget the day I was racially abused in front of my young son
FROM THE ABC: It was October 26 last year when out of nowhere came a racial attack I will never forget. My six-year-old son Archie, who has autism, and I were at his favourite public swimming pool — his safe place, his happy place.
What should you do if you see someone being racially abused during the coronavirus pandemic?
FROM THE ABC: Often bystanders really do want to intervene in these sorts of situations, but feel powerless to help, or worry about putting themselves in harm’s way.
So here’s what you need to know if you want to stand up for someone facing racist abuse, but just don’t know what to do.
Coronavirus is reminding people how racism takes a psychological toll, but there are ways to be resilient
FROM THE ABC: A recent string of coronavirus-related attacks against Asian-Australians has prompted many people to share their experiences with racism and the psychological impacts it has had on their lives.
Doctor calls for unity during coronavirus pandemic after being targeted in racist attack
ABC: A Geelong doctor who experienced a racist attack while waiting for takeaway food has called on the community to be more caring and inclusive during the coronavirus pandemic.
Extreme right groups exploiting virus fear and tension
FROM THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: Right wing extremist groups are rallying to fuel coronavirus panic by exploiting images of social division – including fights over toilet paper, a leading expert warns.
Racist coronavirus event at Melbourne nightclub Pawn & Co cancelled after backlash
From ABC News: Mr Leong said he had witnessed a resurgence of racism in Australia over the last decade. “It’s becoming increasingly difficult to call out racism — people say you’re being a bloody snowflake or you have a glass jaw,” he said. He also said education was “an uphill battle” when people were ignorant and unwilling to listen to how casual racism hurt those it was making fun of.
My story of racism and discrimination in Australia
FROM THE ABC: There’s always a count on, and for a long time I thought it was something everybody did. On some level, the count is about safety. If I’m the only brown person around and someone says something racist, it plays into how I’ll react.
Victims of coronavirus-fuelled racism in Australia are speaking out about its impact
A reporting database for anti-Asian racism in Australia during the COVID-19 outbreak has received more than 170 responses since it launched a fortnight ago, with the Human Rights Commission also seeing a spike in racial discrimination complaints.
Australians urged to 'show kindness' amid reports of COVID-19 racial discrimination complaints
FROM THE ABC: The Australian Human Rights Commission says about one in four people who lodged racial discrimination complaints in the past two months say they were targeted due to COVID-19.
Coronavirus fans xenophobia against Chinese-Australians
From ABC Radio: The coronavirus is having far reaching consequences here at home.
One result is rising xenophobia against Chinese-Australians with the Federal Government now being urged to fund a national campaign to combat virus-related racism.
The Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has already demanded an end to the racist behaviour.
Guest: Mohammad Al-Khafaji, CEO, Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia
Coronavirus Or Racism: Which Is Spreading Faster?
From FYA: Since the outbreak of coronavirus in China, anti-Chinese attitudes have pervaded our policies and affecting our communities, students and beyond, writes Asanga. Here’s how Asanga sees racism playing out and what you can do to stop it.
Amid rise of race-based attacks, Labor calls for new federal anti-racism campaign
FROM SBS: The federal opposition is calling on the Morrison government to fund a fresh national anti-racism campaign amid a rising tide of race-based attacks.
Swastika graffitied at Queensland's popular Mount Morgan lookout
FROM THE ABC: The spray-painting of a large swastika, accompanied by the words “white power”, at a popular Queensland lookout serves as a reminder that racism is still highly prevalent within Australian communities, a psychologist has said.