Key Takeaways
- A street artist’s poster in Adelaide was vandalized with racist graffiti, sparking a conversation about national identity and multiculturalism.
- The poster, which depicted a late 19th century Muslim immigrant, was part of a series aimed at promoting inclusivity and challenging the notion of a "white Australia".
- The incident has been condemned by the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and community members, who emphasize the importance of unity and rejecting hate.
- The vandalized poster has been replaced with a new one, which features protesters at a March for Australia rally tearing down a Monga Khan poster.
- The incident highlights the ongoing issue of racism and far-right extremism in Australia, and the need for continued efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.
Introduction to the Incident
The recent vandalism of a street artist’s poster in Adelaide has sparked a conversation about national identity and multiculturalism in Australia. The poster, which depicted late 19th century Muslim immigrant Monga Khan above the headline "Aussie", was found defaced with a spray-painted "white power" message. The artwork was part of a series created by artist Peter Drew, who began displaying his "Aussie" artwork series around Adelaide and other capital cities in 2016. The series aims to promote inclusivity and challenge the notion of a "white Australia" by featuring people who applied for exemptions to the White Australia policy.
The Artist’s Response
Peter Drew, the artist behind the poster, estimated that he replaces a poster "once a month" due to racist vandalism. He hit back at the perpetrator, stating that "they call themselves ‘patriots’ but they are not patriotic… They don’t love Australia. They love a fantasy of an Australia that never really was." Drew replaced the vandalized artwork with a new poster, which depicts protesters at a March for Australia rally tearing down a Monga Khan poster. The new poster has the headline "Aussie?", and is intended to provoke thought about what it means to be an Australian. Drew added that "as a rule", he puts up three new posters for every one that is vandalized, in an effort to counteract the effects of racist vandalism.
The Impact of Racist Graffiti
Dr Kaz Ross, an independent researcher into far-right extremism in Australia, said that public commentary like the slogan pictured "has a very corrosive effect — and that’s the intention of it". The intention is to indicate to the target audience that they are not welcome, and to make them feel uncomfortable on the streets in Australia. Dr Ross said that it was significant that the vandal had targeted one of Drew’s posters, which feature people who applied for exemptions to the White Australia policy. The images draw attention to the fact that "White Australia was never just white Australia", and that the country has a long history of multiculturalism. The vandalism of the poster is a symbolic statement about who is an Australian and who is welcome in Australia.
Community Response
The incident has been condemned by the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Zoe Bettison, who said that the message was "offensive and disappointing". Bettison called on South Australians to "stand together in the spirit of unity", and emphasized that the act does not reflect the values of the community. Shai Wittles, a member of the Jewish community in Adelaide, said that tensions had escalated following a recent attack, and that white supremacists were using the incident as a justification for their hate. Wittles said that the intent behind incidents like the graffiti was to stoke division within the community, and that it was making everyone less safe. The community has come together to reject hate and promote unity, with many emphasizing the importance of kindness, respect, and looking out for one another.
The Ongoing Issue of Racism
The vandalism of the poster highlights the ongoing issue of racism and far-right extremism in Australia. The incident is not an isolated one, but rather part of a larger pattern of hate crimes and racist incidents that have been reported in recent years. The incident emphasizes the need for continued efforts to promote diversity and inclusion, and to challenge the notion of a "white Australia". The poster, and the series as a whole, is an important reminder of the country’s multicultural history and the importance of promoting unity and rejecting hate. By promoting inclusivity and challenging racist attitudes, Australia can work towards creating a more harmonious and inclusive society for all.