The march against racism
Image: William Trapman / Photo: Adam Hunt
A prominent Indigenous community activist is organising a march against racism and discrimination to take place later this year, proposed to run from Redfern to The Domain.
William Trapman has a vision of a world free from prejudice and hopes to make a clear stand.
“I want every person that’s experienced racism and discrimination to take a strong stance and to stand and walk together against it,” he said.
“I want to give the gay and lesbian community the opportunity to embrace this march too because I feel that they’ve been discriminated against.”
Mr Trapman said he experienced racism in the workplace from former colleagues and supervisors while working as a subcontractor for Sydney Water.
While partaking in one particular job Mr Trapman said he encountered racial slurs about his community.
“One of the permanent workers at Sydney Water would say: ‘William you black c***, how come you don’t drink and all the other black c**** drink?’” he said.
When Mr Trapman complained of this abuse to his manager he said he was told: “‘If you want to continue working in this place you’ve got to put up with it’.”
Mr Trapman is currently recruiting a committee tasked with organising this year’s march. One notable figure is Stephen Hagan, a campaigner against racism and editor of the National Indigenous Times.
Mr Hagan successfully launched legal action to have the name of the ES “Nigger” Brown Stand at Toowoomba Oval in Queensland removed.
Mr Trapman said he suffered further racism in 2007 from his supervisor and it forced him to leave Sydney Water.
“We were doing a job in Kent St and I was down in a hole chest-high digging out a lot of dirt and a lady walked past and said ‘What are you doing down there?’
“Before I could say anything, my supervisor said: ‘I’m gonna bury the black b****** down there’, and she said: ‘What did you say?’
“She walked away that disgusted, and so was I.”
Mr Trapman’s claim for racial discrimination against Sydney Water was settled in 2009, but years of abuse have taken their toll.
“I felt like a dirty, scum of the earth black fella because of all the stuff I put up with. I was a shattered man,” he said.
Mr Trapman hopes the march will be a cathartic experience and will bring him closure. He also hopes to help people that have endured similar bigotry.
In 2010, Mr Trapman penned his vision:
To my people, the Aboriginal people of this country,
To the Australian people,
To the immigrants who crossed our foreshores and called Australia home,
I want us all to take a stance and to stand and fight racism and discrimination in the community, in the workplace, on sporting fields or wherever.
And let us all embrace one another and walk together side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder, arm-in-arm, holding hands and go together as one.
