Biggest refugee rights protests in years
Thousands of people demonstrated around the country on Saturday and Sunday against the racist immigration policies of the Labor and Liberal parties.
The past week has seen the unveiling of some of the most disgraceful attacks – and proposed attacks – on asylum seekers in decades. But the reactions have been swift on the part of human rights defenders.
In Melbourne more than 5,000 took to the streets in the biggest refugee rights action in a decade on Saturday. Another rally was endorsed for next friday 2 August, 5:30pm at Flinders Street Station steps.
Pamela Curr from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre summed up the mood of many at the protest:
“There is something evil going on in this country … and we have to stand up to it. People are being attacked on the streets in unprecedented numbers – what happened to the Indian students happened quietly for two years until they actually started being killed on the streets and it was only then that the students managed to get their voices heard and there was an acknowledgment that there was an insidious form of racism in this city…”
Another who addressed the crowd was Mangi Kotas Buin from Papua New Guinea, who spoke about opposition to the government agreement that will see asylum seekers deported from Australia to the struggling nation:
“Majority of our people in PNG – we are not against the asylum seekers, we are against this ridiculous policy which has been signed between our governments. It is well recognised that this is an exercise in vote grabbing for both our prime ministers.”
Abe Ape, a Sudanese spoken word artist/rapper, finished the rally saying:
“We want justice – you won’t find it at Kevin Rudd’s house; you won’t hear it in his speeches. As a matter of fact you won’t even find it at parliament house. You won’t find it with the elections – you’ll find it with the people. They say there are 5000 of you but you represent humanity, you represent the whole world.”
Six hundred came out in Brisbane in the largest action of its kind since those against the Howard Liberal government’s racist policies. Hundreds also marched in Adelaide and Perth, while in Canberra 350 rallied at the ACT ALP conference, chanting “Shame Labor, shame!” In Sydney on Sunday up to 2,000 took to the streets.
The Melbourne and Sydney rallies in particular showed that there is significant opposition to the government, and that people will come out if a lead is given. The demonstration in Melbourne was backed and publicised by a range of organisations, including the Victorian Trades Hall Council.
more actions have been announced for the coming weeks. It is vital that as many people come along to these protests as possible.
We have to continue sending a message that there is resistance to the racism that is being unleashed by the government. Resistance has to be seen and heard by as many people as possible.
