This is our line in the sand: act now to end hate speech

Jewish Israel supporters confront pro-Palestine protesters. Picture: Jason Edwards

Standing in Jerusalem’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and seeing the names on the wall of those who signed their death sentences, I was shocked by how many signatories were often well-educated. How did we end up in a situation where a group of people could systematically map out the annihilation of the European Jewish population?

History tells us it can happen through incremental acquiescence. It happens when ordinary people look the other way, when we are silent, and when we compromise our principles.

It happens when we do not speak out against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, or any form of abhorrent discrimination.

Today, I am speaking out against hate speech.

It has no place in Australian society. I cannot be clearer than that.

I am speaking out in my personal capacity and as the chancellor of one of this country’s leading universities, located in western Sydney, which is home to people from 170 countries and where one in two people speaks a language other than English at home.

I’m doing so as part of a family that includes two people, a mother and her son, who are from an Islamic background, who are stateless because they faced genocide in Afghanistan, who were forced to flee, and now live as asylum-seekers. They are our family, and my partner, Tess, and I love them. And I am doing so as someone who has endured sexism and homophobia.

I do not believe we can pick and choose our moral positions.

Universities are champions of freedom of speech. They are bastions of facts, critical thinking and knowledge. They should be places of intellectual challenge, but they must never be places of fear. Universities have a responsibility to protect freedom of speech, even if it is uncomfortable.

We must also protect the safety and wellbeing of students, staff and visitors from racist, violent or extremist comments and actions.

Free speech is never a licence for hate speech.

Gaza - Israel war protestors camping at Sydney University campus calling for it to cut its ties with weapon manufacturers in Australia. Photo: Jeremy Piper

Western Sydney University’s position is simple. It is guided by its principles. Our Charter of Academic Freedom supports the right of staff and students to academic freedom and freedom of speech. It requires that freedoms and rights be exercised responsibly with zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism, hate speech or intimidation.

We are committed to the wellbeing of staff and students from all cultures, with respect for the diversity of views and experiences across our many communities.

In protecting freedom of speech, we guard our Australian values of tolerance, respect and fairness, which have made us the most successful multicultural country in the world.

I believe we cannot be silent when members of the Jewish community are targeted for the actions of a government more than 14,000km away. It would be like persecuting the Russian diaspora for the actions of Vladimir Putin.

Nor can we allow any form of discrimination or intimidation against Palestinians because of the actions of Hamas.

Now is the time to call out growing division and creeping anti-Semitism.

Now is the time for collective leadership. Now is the time for all leaders, including lawmakers, to get on the same page. We must be constantly vigilant.

To turn a blind eye would mean that, thread by thread, we allow others to tear at the fabric of our social cohesion and threaten our hard-fought freedoms.

The hate speech and anti-Semitism occurring on our campuses is a direct assault on Australia’s multiculturalism and its principles.

Ours is not a country of haters.

Australians are stronger than the things that divide us, especially in western Sydney.

As chancellor, one of my greatest privileges is overseeing our graduations. With relatives and friends present, many of our students are the first in their families to earn a degree. They are the face of an ever-evolving multicultural Australia: young, dynamic, and full of ambition and hope.

As students enriching their lives through education, they rightfully expect our campuses to be safe places where they have the freedom to express themselves and to belong.

What type of society do we want to leave these students, our children and grandchildren? One where they are afraid to be proud of their distinct cultural identity?

As chancellor, I have learned that building a sense of community is a work in progress. We need to listen more than we talk. We need to walk in the shoes of others.

Many people come to this country for one reason, and one reason only; freedom from fear, and we cannot allow that to be undermined.

So, a line in the sand must be drawn. It cannot fall to one institution or one set of institutions, it is the collective responsibility of all of us to stand up against anti-Semitism and hate speech.

Academic freedom and freedom of speech are critically important. I will always protect them. But they come with responsibilities. Civility, respect and tolerance are the greatest freedoms of all; they are the bedrock of our democracy and the bedrock of our cohesive society. We must never take them for granted, and we must act now to stop their erosion.

Professor Jennifer Westacott AO is the chancellor of Western Sydney University.