ECC NSW and APCO march to muzzle hate speech

By Richard J. Ford – PR-APCO Inc
NSW-Australia
April 24, 2017



On the 31 March 2017 a celebration of the defeat of the 2^nd attempt of the Liberal Government to introduce change to Section 18C of Racial Discrimination Act.

Thousands of people from CALD and mainstream Australian communities gathered at Lakemba to participate in the Walk for Respect carrying strong messages which included: Pledge to Support our Multicultural community, Community Harmony and Cultural Respect and Reject Hate Speech, Racism and Bigotry and Changing Section 18C!


Ethnic Communities Council of NSW Inc. (ECC NSW) the state peak body of culturally and linguistically diverse communities along with the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc. (APCO) with its President Pet Storey and delegates were visibly represented in this very important community initiative aimed to prevent Australians from all backgrounds from being the target of hate speech.

Prior to the walk, community leaders from various groups had the opportunity to speak in defence of the retention of Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. Dr Cen Amores, Founding President of APCO and a Board Member of ECCNSW Inc. respectively, was among the community leaders who spoke passionately about the need to stand united as one big community to stamp out any attempt to encourage hate speech and any form of racism.

Three years ago, the same government attempted but failed to change Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. APCO prepared a position paper with hundreds of signatures from the Filipino-Australian community strongly expressing its opposition to the proposed changes.