­#StandUpToHate: Prominent Aussies join Nova Peris in campaign to restore harmony

Olympian Nova Peris and 12 other prominent Aussies have backed a new campaign urging all Australians to stand up together to restore the peaceful harmony that makes us the envy of the world.

Former Olympic hockey player Nova Peris can still visualise herself as a proud 21-year-old representing the Northern Territory, as an opposing player turned away with the words: “I’m not shaking that black bitch’s hand.”

“It was the first time I experienced racism in sport,” Ms Peris said. “What could I do? You suffer in silence, you cry internally.”

But it was the catalyst for a lifetime of speaking up in sport, in federal parliament and in life every day against hatred in all its forms.

“I speak up because I know how it feels to be attacked and vilified,” she said. “Now I am asking Australians to stand up for this country.”

Ms Peris is one of 13 prominent Australians including Rachel Griffiths, former Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Kyle Sandilands, who have joined the ­#StandUpToHate campaign.

Nova Peris wants to see the community come together and stand against the hatred that has engulfed the country. Picture: David Hancock

The campaign has the backing of the nation’s top media companies, including News Corp Australia, publisher of this masthead, which will carry advertisements encouraging Australians to use the #StandUpToHate hashtag in social media posts.

The campaign has been sparked by unprecedented levels of hate, including personal attacks, destruction of property and intimidation, and it urges all Australians to stand up together against this rising challenge and restore peaceful harmony that makes us the envy of the world.

Sir Peter Cosgrove has joined the campaign. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Actor Rachel Griffiths has chosen to #StandUpToHate. Picture: Jim Le

News Corp Australia Executive Chairman Michael Miller said media organisations recognised they had an important role in reporting and exposing hatred in society, and in telling stories that helped heal division.

“The rise in racial hatred is unprecedented, unacceptable and unworthy of our great nation,” Mr Miller said.

“This is not the Australia we know. Nor is it the Australia we know it can be.

“Silence is not the way forward. Because silence breeds indifference. And that allows hate to fester, and lets the haters win.”

broadcaster Kyle Sandilands is one of 13 prominent Australians who have joined the ­#StandUpToHate campaign. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ms Peris, the first Aboriginal woman to win an Olympic gold medal and former parliamentarian, has been a vocal supporter of the Jewish community.

“The rise of anti-Semitism is next level, I have never seen it like this,” she said.

“Attacking our war memorials, places of worship, Christmas and Easter.

“People have the right to religious freedom.

“I am putting the question to Australian people, what are our Australian values?”

Ms Peris is flying to Kokoda on Sunday to honour her great-grandfather Jack Knox, who fought with 2/16th Battalion in what is now Papua New Guinea. That generation’s values are a beacon from the past.

“Our soldiers did not pick and choose which parts of our society they were fighting for, they fought for the whole country,” she said.

News Corp Executive Chairman Michael Miller says a recent rise in racial hatred is ‘unworthy of our great nation’. Picture: Adam Head

“To see our war memorials being attacked and defaced and vandalised is not freedom of speech, it is hatred towards our country, towards a people who gave up their families for everything we have here today.

“Australians should be able to live free and we as a community, if we don’t do something now then we are going to turn into a fragmented country and that’s not OK.”

Ms Peris said that for her and the other campaigners, who also include Eddie McGuire and NRL legend Gordon Tallis, silence was not an option.

“I come from the minority group of being an Aboriginal Australian and I have always chosen not to be a silent bystander but to be a vocal upstander,” Ms Peris said.

“Enough is enough, we have to put a stop to this.”

Originally published as ­#StandUpToHate: Prominent Aussies join Nova Peris in campaign to restore harmony