Sarah Stephen
Hundreds of people have responded with enthusiasm to the call for a convergence on Canberra on November 16 — the day parliament opens. This will be the first opportunity to come together in a national protest against the newly elected Coalition government.
One of the key organisations planning to mobilise is Rural Australians for Refugees, which already has groups from the north coast of NSW and Port Pirie in South Australia bringing buses and cars full of protesters.
A group of Murri activists led by Sam Watson will come down from Brisbane. Some activists are even making the trip all the way across from Perth, and others planning to participate include anti-war, women's rights and gay and lesbian rights groups and activists.
Sydney-based ChilOut (Children Out of Detention) is urging its members and supporters to get down to Canberra to support refugees. A recent Chilout newsletter declared: "We need to make a statement that many of us still care about this issue and we're not going to go away. If we're depressed about the election, think how it must be affecting those still behind the razor wire or electrified fences."
As many as 40 Sri Lankan asylum seekers on bridging visas — many facing the threat of deportation — will join Melbourne activists on the buses coming up to Canberra.
There will be a 12.30pm rally on the lawns of parliament and speakers will include Greens Senator Bob Brown, an activist from Rural Australians for Refugees, Murri activist and Socialist Alliance member Sam Watson and Afghan refugee Riz Wakil. The governor-general will arrive at 1.30pm to open parliament at 2pm.
The Refugee Action Collective Victoria, whose buses will arrive early in the morning, plans to gather at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy at 10am and march to the High Court.
Rural Australians for Refugees is encouraging its members to arrive in Canberra early enough to join a midday march from the High Court to Parliament House lawns, incorporating a procession of RAR groups from towns across Australia.
Canberra RAC activist and rally organiser Andrew Hall told Green Left Weekly: "The event promises to be a real showcase of the broad refugee movement that will show we are united, and we will certainly not be going away. Let's stand up for refugees!"
From Green Left Weekly, November 3, 2004.
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