#istandwithadam: Social media campaign rallies for Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes

As Sydney Swans players prepared to run through a banner adorned with the simple word "RESPECT", youngsters, footballers, actors and well known Australians threw their support behind Adam Goodes and the #istandwithadam campaign promoted by Fairfax Media on Saturday.

Goodes, who is on leave after being continually booed at football matches, has received strong support from Fairfax Media through The Age and Sydney Morning Herald editorials declaring their support for #istandwithadam.

Actors Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Richard Roxborough and Peter Phelps as well as other well known Australians, including Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Greens MP Sarah Hanson-Young and TV personality Georgie Gardner, on Saturday sent videos to Fairfax Media backing the #istandwithadam campaign. Actors Les Hill and Paula Duncan also stepped up, emailing in their support.

All of the Melbourne football players wore the colours of the Aboriginal flag in tape on their limbs, mostly at their wrists, while indigenous player Travis Varcoe of Collingwood wore an Aboriginal flag taped to his bicep.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews backed the Fairfax Media campaign with his own call to action: "My challenge to the people of Victoria or those at the SCG this weekend is this: if the person next to you starting booing - call them out It's wrong, it's not in the spirit of the game and it's not in the spirit of our nation," he said.

Elaine Carbines, chief of Geelong business group G21, described The Age's coverage as inspirational.

A sign outside the SCG has called for fans to have a standing ovation at the third quarter at the seven minute mark to acknowledge the absent Adam Goodes.

And while famous actors might appreciate going to the footy in peace, actor Peter Phelps has called for footy fans to "call out" to him that they support his stance against the bigoted booing and in support of Adam Goodes at the game today.

Meanwhile, on social media football fans across the country posted messages of support, hours beofre the Swans are due to play Adelaide Crows in front of a crowd of more than 40,000, expected to be the biggest for the Swans this year.

Fans travelling from the ACT to the Sydney game were going prepared with banners in support of Adam Goodes.

Here we come. Swans-ACT say lound & clear #IStandWithAdam #goswans pic.twitter.com/RdQGjGcEYv— Steven Curren (@sacurren) August 1, 2015

Businesses, churches and homes have embraced the campaign backed by Fairfax Media.

My house. Thanks @smh #AdamGoodes #IStandWithAdam pic.twitter.com/JGIYtXoBzZ— SusannaFreymark (@SusannaFreymark) August 1, 2015

Front and centre of the Pharmacy this morning #IStandWithAdam @sydneyswans pic.twitter.com/2Kx1HASlTY— Ian Tester (@iantester) July 31, 2015

Boo the Bigots.. #IStandWithAdam #NoRoomForRacism #auspol @adamroy37 pic.twitter.com/0ifIt0k283— Arif (@Atozai) July 28, 2015

Junior players have begun wearing indigenous round jumpers and painting Goodes' number 37 on their arms, including Under 8s Wests' Juniors v Drummoyne Power in Sydney.

#IStandWithAdam U8 West's Juniors vs Drummoyne Power pic.twitter.com/HuYohszSTk— Alissa Webster (@Alissa40) July 31, 2015

"He's on our team" #Newtown Swans U6s supporting #AdamGoodes #37 #IStandWithAdam pic.twitter.com/SbSMRhkRgU— Darren Jenkins (@darrenjenk) August 1, 2015

#IstandwithAdam Let the cheers drown out the boos. @adamroy37 @sydneyswans #AFL @abcnews pic.twitter.com/wvFn08z11V— David Mark (@davymark1) July 31, 2015

@adamroy37 Love love love your work #IStandWithAdam @AFLAuskick Wests AFL pic.twitter.com/wdN0aKYqR0— Ruth Gordon (@rgordeaux) July 31, 2015

#IStandWithAdam #AFL #AdamGoodes @adamroy37 #NewtownSwans pic.twitter.com/2o7hH8aKNw— Dee Rose (@deedre) August 1, 2015

And non-Swans fans are also coming out in support.

Cheering the Crows on for a win today but sad that Adam Goodes has been bullied out of this game. #weflyasone #IStandWithAdam— Kathryn Parker (@kathyp56) August 1, 2015

Actor Les Hill, writing from Los Angeles, described himself as a Swans fan: "My family is of indigenous heritage, and are related to the Ella brothers, proud Australian athletes who never had to put up with (to my knowledge) the disgraceful behaviour that AG is dealing with.

"The current situation, in my opinions, is bringing to a head important points and questions about who we are as a nation. As people, and as a nation.
But it should not be at one good mans expense. It is not his burden."

Paula Duncan wrote: "A great sportsman, a fine man who has given and contributed so much to our Australian community, demonstrated great spirit in promoting inclusion and acceptance in diversity and respect for others. Australian of the year, I stand right behind Adam Goodes."

Writers like Hannah Kent and human rights activists Hugh de Kretser and David Mann also sent video messages and tweets in support of the #istandwithadam campaign.

#IStandWithAdam pic.twitter.com/iHn5RjHsOj— David Manne (@david_manne) July 31, 2015

While the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, representing journalists, also tweeted support of #istandwithadam.

We all have the right to work without bullying & harassment #AdamGoodes #MEAAmedia #MEAAcrew #MEAAequity #MEAAsport pic.twitter.com/KErUzb9kYg— MEAA (@withMEAA) July 31, 2015

And reporters followed suit.

Proud to be part of this campaign. #IStandWithAdam @theage @smh pic.twitter.com/pWunyGWYhq— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) August 1, 2015

Proud of my paper today. #IStandWithAdam pic.twitter.com/TmwPCkkC6u— Peter Hanlon (@PeterGHanlon) July 31, 2015

Short black and white sugar. It's black and white in the cafes of #Melbourne #IStandWithAdam #AdamGoodes pic.twitter.com/YVsLxSfS03— Suzanne Carbone (@SuzanneCarbone) August 1, 2015

Melbourne Radio 3AW talkback host Neil Mitchell has tweeted about Adam Goodes after he condemned Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews for calling booing fans "bigoted".

"How does he know that most of the people booing Adam Goodes are racist? How does he know what's in their head?" Mr Mitchell said earlier in the week.

But on Saturday he tweeted two posts saying Goodes was "hurt personally" and needed to be treated decently.

There is some racism behind what has happened I am sure. But how can anybody assess the overall motivation .?— Neil Mitchell (@3AWNeilMitchell) July 31, 2015

But Goodes is hurt personally and deserves to be treated decently whether hurt was intended or not by most— Neil Mitchell (@3AWNeilMitchell) July 31, 2015