ABC staff in Sydney and Melbourne walk out to protest Stan Grant’s Q&A exit
Large numbers of ABC staff in Sydney and Melbourne have walked off the job to stand in solidarity with outgoing Q&A host Stan Grant, who announced last week he was stepping away from the broadcaster.
Presenter Casey Briggs, online Arts editor Dee Jefferson and Triple J Hack reporter Kimberley Price were among those who took to Twitter to confirm the walk-out, sharing photos and videos.
Staff at ABC Southbank standing in solidarity with Wiradjuri, Dharawal and Gurrawin man Stan Grant. #IStandWithStan #WeRejectRacisim pic.twitter.com/mpYR9Gwqb9
— Kimberley Price (she/her) (@_kimberleyprice) May 22, 2023
A number of high-profile staffers also tweeted their support for Grant and the rally, including presenters David Speers, Virginia Trioli and Patricia Karvelas.
Racism is abhorrent. I stand with my friend and colleague Stan Grant. pic.twitter.com/KAcRbyBBHK
— David Speers (@David_Speers) May 22, 2023
Also at the walk-out were Media Diversity Australia chief Mariam Veiszadeh and Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) organiser and former journalist Tyron Butson.
“Huge turn out of ABC MEAA members standing with Stan Grant,” Butson’s tweet read. “The vile racism that has been thrown at him and other Indigenous staff members recently is not on.”
Huge turn out of ABC @withMEAA members standing with Stan Grant. The vile racism that has been thrown at him and other Indigenous staff members recently is not on #istandwithstan #werejectracism pic.twitter.com/EHcPm5U9to
— Tyron Butson (@tbutson) May 22, 2023
Grant last week revealed he will step away from the ABC, a year after being made the permanent host of Q&A, after enduring racist attacks and threats.
In an emotional opinion piece, he said he “had enough” of the “relentless racial filth” he had been subjected to and that he does not know when or if he will return.
Today, the ABC denied claims it tried to “distance itself” from an explosive report into the abuse copped by minority background journalists, delivered to the network just three weeks before Grant’s departure.
Tonight’s episode of Q&A will be Grant’s last. The Australian reported that Karvelas will temporarily stand in from next week.
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