On 21 March six southern Tasmanian councils, includ­ing Brighton Council unveiled a new campaign celebrating Greater Hobart’s cultural and linguistic diversity and taking a stand against acts of racism.

The idea of the ‘We Stand Together Against Racism’ campaign has been driven by Brighton Council and developed collaboratively between Brighton, Clarence, Hobart, Glenorchy, Kingbor­ough and Sorell councils, with guidance from the Migrant Resource Centre.

The campaign was officially launched with a walk along Hobart’s waterfront, led by the six Mayors, CEOs, and former Tasmanian Premier and Chair of the Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania, Peter Gutwein. Coinciding with Internation­al Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the walk to Parliament Lawns was an opportunity for community members to show solidarity, raise awareness, and commit to a future free from racial discrimination.

Mayor Leigh Gray said he felt heartened that the six councils were able to come together on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrim­ination (IDERD) to launch this joint anti-racism campaign. “In our local communities, we all see the best, and unfortu­nately at times the worst, of human nature. It is vital that as community members and Tasmanians, we stand strong and united against the perva­sive issue of racism, he said. “Our councils began this joint initiative with the strong belief that open discussions about racism demonstrate a commit­ment to tackling racism when it occurs and prevent­ing it in the future. We need to act for change and demonstrate our leadership on this issue. This campaign is a very powerful and unified way of doing that.”

Former Tasmanian Premier and Chair of the Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania Peter Gutwein led the walk. “As a former migrant myself I want to thank the six councils for standing together against racism. I think that Tasmania generally is an inclusive and respectful place but occasion­ally we let ourselves down. That’s why last year I walked across the State to provide a platform for migrants and refugees to share the posi­tive contributions they make, because regardless of colour, race, background, or circum­stance we are all better when we are together.”

Following the walk, the City of Hobart hosted The FILM and TALK, featuring the launch of Our Journey, a short film by Students Against Racism. A panel of passionate advocates, including commu­nity leaders, academics, and artists, discussed racism, its impact, and ways to foster equality in Lutruwita, Tasmania.

To learn more about how we can all play a part in building a welcoming community visit www.standtogetherhobart.com