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Refugee Rally Report and Photos
by Takver
Saturday October 02, 2004 at 02:10 AM
At 5pm on Friday night thousands gathered outside the State Library calling for an end to Mandatory Detention and close the detention camps, a just process for asylum seekers, an end to locking up refugee or asylum seeker children, no forced deportations, and offering permanent visas in place of the temporary protection visas the Howard Government has issued to many refugees.
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Due to ill health, Senator Bob Brown could not attend but a statement of support was read on his behalf. Dr Brown pledged the Greens to ending the construction of the Christmas Island detention camp and "return humanity to Australia's policy". His statement said "No human beings escaping tyranny should be locked up in the desert behind barbed wire,"
Several other speakers spoke against the refugee and detention policies of the Howard Government.
The socialists and anarchists were there, as were the Democrats and Greens. There were students, and mums with strollers; businessmen and women and pensioners; unionists and refugees. The moral issues of treatment of asylum seekers and refugees has struck a chord across Australian society.
I estimated the crowd at about 5,000 people. Tim Petterson, from the Refugee Action Committee, estimated the crowd, at between 5,000 and 10,000 people. Police estimated 1,000 to 2,000, which I thought was a very poor estimate.
Tim Petterson was quoted in the Age saying: "We're really pleased and think it's a fantastic turnout," he said. "There is a real sense of a hope in being able to change Australia's unjust refugee policies. This rally sends the message to all the political parties in Australia that we are unhappy with our treatment of refugees and there is a real need for them to lift their game."
People then left the State Library and marched down Swanston, right into Collins St, up Elizabeth St, right into the Bourke St Mall, before forming a giant circle several layers deep at the intersection of Bourke and Swanston to watch some Street Theatre and listen to more speakers.
Other media coverage:
The Age: Thousands turn out to protest against detention
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/01/1096527938051.html
John Howard - Liar
by Takver
Saturday October 02, 2004 at 02:10 AM
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Crowd panorama
by Takver
Saturday October 02, 2004 at 02:10 AM
click to enlarge
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Amnesty
by Takver
Saturday October 02, 2004 at 02:10 AM
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Front of the crowd
by Takver
Saturday October 02, 2004 at 02:10 AM
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Want to know how candidates rate on refugee issues?
by Takver
Saturday October 02, 2004 at 02:10 AM
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http://www.thejusticeproject.com.au/
Kids in detention is Un-australian
by Takver
Saturday October 02, 2004 at 02:10 AM
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John Howard was there!
by Takver
Saturday October 02, 2004 at 02:10 AM
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How would you feel?...
by Takver
Saturday October 02, 2004 at 02:10 AM
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Is the Tampa John Howard's titanic?
by Takver
Saturday October 02, 2004 at 02:10 AM
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A lot of people 'Are Not Happy, John'
by Takver
Saturday October 02, 2004 at 02:10 AM
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