More than 100 community and union activists turned out on to the steps of Geelong Town Hall on July 25 to say 鈥渘o room for racism鈥.
They mobilised in response to provocative media coverage of a small Naarm/Melbourne-based Nazi group which had posed in front of the Town Hall聽and the local office聽of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and聽Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) the previous week.
The solidarity rally was initiated by the community at newly-elected City of Greater Geelong (CoGG) councillor Sarah Hathway鈥檚 first consultation in Norlane.聽Residents decided at that meeting to organise publicly聽for tolerance and diversity in response to racism.
鈥淚t shows that even a small group of residents getting together, talking through an issue and taking an initiative can have a broader impact,鈥 Hathway told 一品探花.
Activists from the MUA, the CFMEU and other unions, Geelong Trades Hall , the Combined Refugee Action Group, Socialist Alliance and various churches attended. A number of CoGG councillors did too.
Ross Smith, a spokesperson for the MUA, said hate speech would not destroy union and community unity.
John Setka, Victorian CFMEU Secretary, told the Geelong Advertiser聽that the small National Socialist Network group had rioted outside the CFMEU Melbourne offices in 2020 in 鈥渁 display of weakness and chaos鈥. 鈥淲e will always stand by our brothers and sisters, regardless of their race, religion or gender.鈥
A number of the activists later attended the CoGG Council meeting where Hathway expressed her optimism to work with communities on positive campaigns in her maiden speech.
Jenna Wade, a Norlane resident, asked council to support an anti-racist campaign, including with posters promoting social justice, equity and inclusion.
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