Council vigil: Golliwogs ‘a symbol of a dark past’
A vigil has been held outside the Clarence Council chambers in response to Alderman Brendan Blomeley’s Facebook post about golliwogs. LATEST >>
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A VIGIL in response to Alderman Brendan Blomeley’s Facebook post about Golliwogs has been held outside the Clarence Council Chambers.
Organiser and Head of Citizen Tasmania Grace Williams said the event was to celebrate diversity and interrupt the controversy.
“We’re not protesting against him, we’re here to show there are different forms of diversity and we should be celebrating that,” Ms Williams said.
The Clarence Council Alderman took to social media on Sunday with a picture of the controversial dolls for sale in the window of a Richmond shop.
“Wonderful to know the PC brigade haven’t taken total control,” he said in the post.
It attracted a strong response on social media, with many quick to slam Mr Blomeley.
“This generates negativity for people of colour, it stops the community being supportive, inclusive and caring,” Ms Williams said
Twenty people attended the vigil.
“We’re here to show how different people from different cultures can celebrate diversity in a respectful and kind way that doesn’t dishonour people.”
Ms Williams believed the Alderman would have been aware of the backlash he would attract before he posted on Facebook.
“I think the controversy was a deliberate way to get political attention,” she said.
“It’s using multicultural people to get political notoriety by encouraging controversy and that’s not okay.”
A vigil has been held outside the Clarence Council following Alderman Brendan Blomeley’s post about golliwogs. @themercurycomaupic.twitter.com/ksx8R7yYQY
— Judy Augustine (@JudyAugustine) June 2, 2021
The vigil organiser said Mr Blomeley could have googled the historical context behind golliwogs to understand why some people might be upset by them.
“I get that he might find it’s important for his childhood, that it’s something that’s it’s important for his childhood, but it’s a symbol.”
“It’s a symbol of a dark past that we all share where people of colour were told to go to the back of the bus and were punished for nothing that was their fault.”
Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Campaign Coordinator Nala Mansell said the alderman’s discourse was a disgrace and the posts were disrespectful and racist.
“It’s not up to white people to determine what’s offensive to black people,” Ms Mansell said.
“It’s something people know is offensive, he’s obviously aware of the offensiveness but is showing a lack of care or respect.”
“He should apologise. Cultural awareness training would be good.”
The controversy coincides with reconciliation week, which is dedicated to learning about Aboriginal culture and reflecting on past injustices.
“It highlights how far we’ve got to go,” Ms Mansell said.
“Reconciliation week should be about non-aboriginal people working towards fixing the injustices against aboriginal people.”
Alderman has ambassador status revoked
June 1, 2021:
AN anti-racism vigil will be held outside the Clarence City Council chambers on Wednesday in response to comments made by an alderman in defence of the controversial golliwog dolls.
On Monday, Brendan Blomeley posted a photograph on his alderman Facebook page with a photo of golliwogs accompanied by the caption: “Wonderful to know the PC Brigade haven’t taken total control!”
Once a popular children’s toy, the dolls have fallen into disfavour in recent years because, in the words of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, they “perpetuate the sort of stereotypes that often underpin racism”.
They remain on display in the window of a Richmond store.
After being the subject of criticism for airing his views, Ald Blomeley doubled down by visiting the store and taking a photo of himself with one of the dolls.
Ald Blomeley said he was former director of the Migrant Resource Centre in Southern Tasmania and a multicultural ambassador for Mental Health Foundation Australia.
But, on Tuesday morning, the chair of the MHFA contacted Ald Blomeley revoking his ambassador status.
“It has come to our attention that a social media post circulated by yourself as well as the media release following, has caused discomfort in the community, being labelled as discriminatory and racist,” chairperson Vasan Srinivasan wrote in an email.
“Over the last 24 hours, we have received numerous Facebook messages, emails and calls regarding this and we are informing you that use of the MHFA banner for this, was inappropriate and does not reflect the values and ethos of our organisation.
“We will be revoking your position as a multicultural ambassador of the MHFA in Tasmania, and we also strongly advise the statement containing the MHFA’s name, be removed.”
The MHFA expects ambassadors to “demonstrate respect, consideration and fair treatment to all” and demonstrate “the highest standard of behaviour.”
Ald Blomeley said while disappointing, the decision was not unexpected.
“Sadly, apologists for the left-wing cancel culture zealots, who look for prejudice and racism often where there is none, are destroying the very fabric of our society,” he said in response to the email.
“In all my public statements, I have clearly stated that ‘if this has caused anyone genuine offence, then of course I apologise’.”
Ald Blomeley said the MHFA had lacked “the maturity or strength of conviction in this matter”.
“To be very clear, I am not a racist and indeed, I have a proud record of working, over many years, to achieve harmony and acceptance in our diverse community,” he said.
Local not for profit arts and human rights organisation Citizen Tasmania has also organised a vigil outside the Rosny Park council chambers to “speak out” against Ald Blomeley.
Group director Grace Williams said attendees would send the message that “the celebration of racist history is no longer acceptable in this state.”
“Blomeley is attempting to garner outrage by deliberately inciting division for political gain at the expense of multicultural people whom he is supposed to serve as person who has influence in the multicultural sector,” she said.
“His behaviour is harmful for the self-esteem of people of colour who have to deal with the mental health challenges of rejection and exclusion caused by racism.”
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