A set of safety flyers circulating this week, branded with the Racism Register’s details, has been confirmed as authentic. Co-founders Elizabeth Lang and Elizabeth Tekanyo said they deliberately released the materials to warn vulnerable communities ahead of the “March for Australia” protests scheduled for 31 August.
“Yes, the poster was created and shared by the Racism Register to community networks,” Lang and Tekanyo said, responding to questions about its origin. They acknowledged that one flyer carried a stronger headline describing the rallies as “white supremacist” events, but encouraged use of the more neutral version, titled Protect Our Communities, which still carried the same core message around vigilance and safety.
The flyers outline practical steps: avoiding protest areas, leaving calmly if caught nearby, travelling in groups, and reporting racist incidents to police or through the Racism Register. “We want communities, particularly those most at risk of racism, to know where they can turn if they experience or witness a racist incident,” the co-founders said.
Some organisers of the rallies insist they are about mass immigration and housing pressures, not race. But Lang and Tekanyo argued that what rallies claim to be and what they become are often different. “The intention behind this rally and what it could potentially turn out to be are two different things,” they explained. “While organisers have presented it as a response to immigration or housing pressures, similar recent events across Australia and internationally have shown that these kinds of rallies often attract extremist groups and individuals who use them as platforms to spread racist ideologies. We want to ensure communities who are most affected by racism and hate speech remain vigilant.”
The Register said it expects to see “a spike in racist incidents around this rally,” noting that some participants have already been explicit in targeting non-white communities in their messaging.
Lang and Tekanyo said the flyers were aimed primarily at visible migrant groups, including international students and multicultural workers who may not be aware of the protests. “It’s important that people know what is happening and take precautions around their safety, including while travelling to and from work for those who work weekends and late hours,” they said.
The warnings come as the Racism Register itself gains momentum as a new national platform for confronting racism. Founded this year by Lang and Tekanyo, both migrant mothers and long-time anti-racism advocates, the Register allows people to anonymously report racist incidents in workplaces, schools, healthcare and public spaces.
“For too long, the stories of those who experience racism have been dismissed or minimised,” Lang said. “The Racism Register ensures these voices are not only heard but turned into actionable data that can’t be ignored.”
Since launch, more than 2000 users have signed up, with over 600 partial reports and 50 full reports logged. Early findings show 41 per cent of incidents occurred in workplaces, 27 per cent in public spaces, and racial slurs were the most common form of abuse. Discrimination in schools, services or jobs was also common.
Tekanyo said the goal was to turn lived experience into systemic change. “We want to equip communities, advocates, and decision-makers with evidence that leads to tangible systemic change. This platform is about visibility, empowerment, and ultimately justice.”
The Register has also partnered with the Racial Justice Centre, Australia’s first legal service dedicated to race discrimination, to ensure reports contribute to reform.
Lang and Tekanyo said authorities and community organisations must do more than just monitor. “We believe authorities and community organisations have a duty of care to share information and respond to any members of the community who may reach out for help or have concerns,” they said. “It’s also important for services and supports to be ready to respond if people reach out for help or guidance.”
With protests looming, the Register is urging vigilance, solidarity, and awareness. Its message is that migrant communities should not face these moments alone and that racist abuse, however casual or systemic, should be reported and recorded.
As part of The Indian Sun’s follow-up, we put a series of questions to Racism Register co-founders Elizabeth Lang and Elizabeth Tekanyo. Here are excerpts from their responses:
Your poster describes the rallies as white supremacist events. Some organisers have publicly distanced themselves from extremist elements and insist their focus is on mass immigration and housing pressures. Why did you choose that framing, and how do you respond to their claims?
The intention behind this rally and what it could potentially turn out to be are two different things. While organisers have presented it as a response to immigration or housing pressures, similar recent events across Australia and internationally have shown that these kinds of rallies often attract extremist groups and individuals who use them as platforms to spread racist ideologies. We want to ensure communities who are most affected by racism and hate speech remain vigilant particularly in light of the subset of participants who have been explicit in targeting non-white communities in their anti-immigration messaging. We expect to see a spike in racist incidents around this rally, and our priority is to ensure people feel supported and prepared.
What was the intention behind releasing this safety poster, and who was it primarily aimed at? Do you see migrant communities as particularly vulnerable ahead of the 31 August rallies?
The intention is firstly to raise awareness that these rallies are taking place, to encourage people to be vigilant around their personal safety, and to provide community members with tips on what to do should people find themselves in unsafe situations. We also want communities, particularly those most at risk of racism, to know where they can turn if they experience or witness a racist incident. The poster is primarily aimed at visible migrant groups, who we know are particularly vulnerable for the reasons outlined in the response above.
While we do not want to alarm communities, we believe it’s vital that people are made aware of the rallies and the potential risks to harm they pose
How concerned are you about the safety of multicultural communities during these planned rallies, and what kind of risks do you believe people should be aware of?
While we hope that the rallies are peaceful, we are concerned about the potential of people being harmed. We believe communities should be aware of the risks of these protests, to be conscious of their physical environments and safety. As part of our community outreach, we shared the information with international students, multicultural groceries and general members of the community, and we found many were unaware of the rallies. It’s important that people know what is happening and take precautions around their safety, including while travelling to and from work for those who work weekends and late hours.
What steps do you want authorities, community organisations, and the public to take in response to these rallies, beyond just staying safe on the day?
We believe authorities and community organisations have a duty of care to share information and respond to any members of the community who may reach out for help or have concerns. While we do not want to alarm communities, we believe it’s vital that people are made aware of the rallies and the potential risks to harm they pose. It’s also important for services and supports to be ready to respond if people reach out for help or guidance.
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