July 22, 2014
Tribunal considers cartoon racism
Manurewa MP Louisa Wall says her challenge to what she sees as anti-Maori cartoons is about standing up for the people in her electorate.
The Human Rights Review Tribunal is hearing her complaint that the Al Nisbett cartoons in the Marlborough Express breach the Human Rights Act prohibition on publishing material that brings people into contempt based on their race or ethnicity.
The cartoons show obviously Maori adults trying to exploit breakfasts in schools.
Ms Wall says all the schools in her electorate have some mechanism to identify children in need and feed them.
She says the cartoons stereotyped Maori as smokers and gamblers who are uncaring of their children.
" Some of us smoke some of us are overweight but the combination of the stereotype bought us into contempt and at some stage we have to stand up and say we are not going to put up with this any longer " she says.
Louisa Wall says the Human Rights Review Tribunal heard evidence the cartoons were examples of the sort of microagression that wears away at the confidence of young Maori.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH LOUISA WALL CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MjAzMzE=
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd