Blackberry
22nd June 2003, 09:51
From the sawu.org/au website.
Thousands of warmly dressed Australians came together on a chilly winter afternoon, to support asylum seekers. A sombre crowd listened to speakers outside the State Library. The common theme was support for human rights and opposition to John Howard's Liberal Government refugee policy.
A coffin covered with orange flowers accompanied a display describing Howard's policy as 'the four D’s; deterrence, detention, despair, and deportation. This policy was described as directly responsible for suffering, injustice, and the deaths of refugees. People were being deported and returned to persecution and murder.
Among the crowd were trade union members, church and religious groups, citizens and lobby groups and political parties. There was little chanting. People walked down Swanston St to Federation Square wheeling prams, riding tricycles, and carrying lots of banners. The crowd reached from the Library to the Bourke St Mall
Represented with banners and slogans were: the Asylum Seekers Centre; the Ballarat Refugee Network - supporting humanity; Use your Freedom - support human rights, Amnesty; Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau, Australian Union of Students; Good Shepard Social Justice Network; Brotherhood of St Lawrence, handing out badges with Jesus's picture on it and the word 'Refugee'; Women for a humane refugee policy; a Women for Peace stall; Peoples Muhajideen Organisation of Iran; Australian Jewish Democratic Society; Ecumenical Migration Centre; Close the Camps; Yarra Greens; Socialist Alliance; Wyndham Refugee Awareness Group; the MEAA; Ruddock is a disgrace, no war on refugees; the NTEU; the Bridgine Community for Justice; Socialist Party and the Socialist Alternative; the Freedom Socialist Party; the Greens and the Union of Australian Women.
Photos:
The crowd outside the State Library listening to speakers. A coffin for all the refugees who have died in seeking asylum. (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_026.jpg)
Portable Detention Centre - a new fashion accessory by Nike? (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_027.jpg)
Listening to speakers at the State Library. I'm the young person in the orange jumper with a very serious look on my face. :D (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_028.jpg)
Philip Ruddock, Immigration Minister, was not well regarded at the rally. (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_031.jpg)
Ballarat Refugee Network attended. Other country Groups also marched including the Gippsland Refugee Action Collective and Kerang Rural Australians for Refugees. (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_032.jpg)
Kids made their thoughts known through chalk drawing on the Library Forecourt. (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_034.jpg)
Leaving the State Library down Swanston Street. (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_035.jpg)
Refugees are victims of.... (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_037.jpg)
Union of Australian Women on the march down Swanston St (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_043.jpg)
Music at Federation Square after a welcome to Refugees beside the Yarra River. (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_048.jpg)
Thousands of warmly dressed Australians came together on a chilly winter afternoon, to support asylum seekers. A sombre crowd listened to speakers outside the State Library. The common theme was support for human rights and opposition to John Howard's Liberal Government refugee policy.
A coffin covered with orange flowers accompanied a display describing Howard's policy as 'the four D’s; deterrence, detention, despair, and deportation. This policy was described as directly responsible for suffering, injustice, and the deaths of refugees. People were being deported and returned to persecution and murder.
Among the crowd were trade union members, church and religious groups, citizens and lobby groups and political parties. There was little chanting. People walked down Swanston St to Federation Square wheeling prams, riding tricycles, and carrying lots of banners. The crowd reached from the Library to the Bourke St Mall
Represented with banners and slogans were: the Asylum Seekers Centre; the Ballarat Refugee Network - supporting humanity; Use your Freedom - support human rights, Amnesty; Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau, Australian Union of Students; Good Shepard Social Justice Network; Brotherhood of St Lawrence, handing out badges with Jesus's picture on it and the word 'Refugee'; Women for a humane refugee policy; a Women for Peace stall; Peoples Muhajideen Organisation of Iran; Australian Jewish Democratic Society; Ecumenical Migration Centre; Close the Camps; Yarra Greens; Socialist Alliance; Wyndham Refugee Awareness Group; the MEAA; Ruddock is a disgrace, no war on refugees; the NTEU; the Bridgine Community for Justice; Socialist Party and the Socialist Alternative; the Freedom Socialist Party; the Greens and the Union of Australian Women.
Photos:
The crowd outside the State Library listening to speakers. A coffin for all the refugees who have died in seeking asylum. (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_026.jpg)
Portable Detention Centre - a new fashion accessory by Nike? (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_027.jpg)
Listening to speakers at the State Library. I'm the young person in the orange jumper with a very serious look on my face. :D (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_028.jpg)
Philip Ruddock, Immigration Minister, was not well regarded at the rally. (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_031.jpg)
Ballarat Refugee Network attended. Other country Groups also marched including the Gippsland Refugee Action Collective and Kerang Rural Australians for Refugees. (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_032.jpg)
Kids made their thoughts known through chalk drawing on the Library Forecourt. (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_034.jpg)
Leaving the State Library down Swanston Street. (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_035.jpg)
Refugees are victims of.... (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_037.jpg)
Union of Australian Women on the march down Swanston St (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_043.jpg)
Music at Federation Square after a welcome to Refugees beside the Yarra River. (http://www.sawu.org/au/events/2262003worldrefugeeday/worldrefugeeday2003_048.jpg)