Woollahra councillors move to take down Racism Not Welcome signs
Image: There has been calls for the Racism Not Welcome signs in Woollahra to be removed immediately. Photo: Darcy Byrne.
By TOKS OGUNDARE
Liberal councillors have called to remove Racism Not Welcome street signs from Woollahra, arguing that the signs do not accurately represent the area.
Councillors Toni Zeltzer, Peter Cavanagh and Mary-Lou Jarvis have put forward a motion for a Woollahra Council meeting on Monday tonight recommending that the signs be immediately removed, as the area “has had no reported racist incidents that would justify these signs”.
The Racism Not Welcome campaign was led by Addison Road Community Organisation and the Inner West Multicultural Network in response to an increase in racist attacks in the community during 2020.
Woollahra Council adopted the campaign last year and installed twelve street signs across the area with one in each suburb and two additional signs in key locations.
The councillors recommending the removal claimed that following the erection of the signs, they have been contacted by numerous residents to “express their displeasure” about the campaign. The motion also states that “on streets where these signs have been erected, locals have been made to feel like racists”.
“The purpose of these signs is to engender tolerance and consideration of other backgrounds and ethnicities, when these values already exist [in Woollahra], without the need for such signs.”
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne displayed his support for the street signs amid the Woollahra councillors’ calls, saying that “the signs are here to stay on our streets”.
“This campaign started in the Inner West, not as an accusation against local people, but rather, as a statement of commitment to ending discrimination and prejudice,” he said yesterday.
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