By Emma Webb
ADELAIDE The neo-Nazi grouplet National Action on September 6 marched down Hanson Road, which runs through the western suburbs and has a large Asian population. While the march attracted 10 people, some 100 anti-racists mobilised despite the fact that there was no organised counter-action.
Several weeks before, a meeting of local community workers, representatives of the Vietnamese community and interested activists decided to attempt to ignore NA and encourage people to shop on Hanson Road as a show of support for the locals, though many felt it would be more effective to organise a peaceful and large mobilisation.
The week before NA's rally, the police leafleted schools, shopping centres and houses asking the Asian community not to respond to or be concerned by the march.
Campaign Against Racism (CAR) set up an anti-racism stall on Hanson Road after being denied access to the Westfield Shopping Centre by security guards. On the other side of the road, NA waited in a pub for several hours, ripped down anti-racism ribbons from poles and intimidated Asian shopkeepers.
By 1pm, when NA was scheduled to march, a crowd of anti-racists had gathered. Some had come not realising there had been no organised response.
NA marched down Hanson Road into the Westfield car park with recorded chants such as "Rights for whites" blaring over a PA system. They performed racist street theatre that linked heroin trafficking and crime to the local Asian community.
The crowd responded with chants of "Migrants yes, racists no!' and "Hey hey, ho ho, National Action have got to go!".
The turnout indicates the willingness of many to take action to fight racism and the necessity for anti-racist activists to organise broad, political and non-violent anti-racist actions.
CAR is organising an action on October 18, when Pauline Hanson addresses a One Nation dinner. For more information phone 8231 6982.