Rainbow Army takes on Newcastle mayor
A guerrilla protest group styling itself the 鈥楻ainbow Army鈥� is at loggerheads with the Lord Mayor of Newcastle over the right to chalk rainbows in public places.
The group began as part of started by Sydney gay personality James Brechney in response to the state government鈥檚 removal of the Taylor Square rainbow crossing in March.
The conflict started when Newcastle City Council removed several chalk rainbows drawn around the city by LGBTI locals following complaints from residents.
On Wednesday, independent Newcastle Lord Mayor Jeff McCloy took exception to the group鈥檚 chalking of dozens of colourful rainbows and slogans outside Newcastle City Hall, calling the work 鈥済raffiti鈥� and telling the group to 鈥渟top this nonsense鈥� before calling the police.
The group moved on after speaking with a council compliance officer and the chalk was removed by council cleaners.
In response, the Rainbow Army has planned a demonstration in Newcastle Civic Park across the road from McCloy鈥檚 offices in City Hall on Tuesday. The 鈥楴ewcastle Equality Stand鈥� will aim to 鈥渃halk-bomb鈥� the park with rainbow crossings and will feature shows from local drag performers.
Rainbow Army spokesman David Mcevoy said McCloy was in the wrong and that he hoped the protest would 鈥済ive him hell鈥�.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been given the all-clear to use the park, which is pissing McCloy off but no one seems to care. The support we鈥檝e gotten has been amazing, especially in a town like Newcastle 鈥� we鈥檝e had youth groups out all day chalking in the park and no one鈥檚 been stopping them,鈥� Mcevoy said.
In a statement released prior to the demonstration the group claim McCloy 鈥渆xceeded the extent of the role of his office鈥� and 鈥渄id not act lawfully or honestly鈥� in ordering the rainbow鈥檚 removal, while accusing Newcastle City Council of violating the right to free speech.
The group has found an ally in neighbouring Lake Macquarie Council, whose mayor, Labor Councillor Jodie Harrison, has thrown her support behind them.
鈥淎s long as it鈥檚 not offensive, there鈥檚 no reason to remove it. I used to mark out my hopscotch squares in coloured chalk,鈥� Harrison said.
A spokeswoman from McCloy鈥檚 office said that while the Lord Mayor was fully supportive of marriage equality, the rainbow outside City Hall had been removed because it was a commercial space that people paid to use.
