Anti-racism in Adelaide
By Michael Unger
ADELAIDE -- The Anti-Racism Alliance (ARA) held a rally on May 7 in protest against a National Action demonstration against the racial vilification legislation.
The racist demonstration attracted about 25 people. In contrast, the rally organised by ARA attracted 350 people from a broad range of organisations and individuals.
Anthony Thirlwall, an activist from Resistance, gave a talk on unemployment and the simplistic scapegoating of migrants. Dimitri Calantzis then spoke as a representative of the migrant community.
We were then entertained by the musical group Archipelago, who taught the very responsive crowd two songs to sing on the march to the Prospect Town Hall, where the National Action demonstration took place.
The feeling in the crowd when we were opposite National Action was one of high spirits celebrating the ANC election victory over racism. Streamers in the colours of the ANC and the Aboriginal flag were handed out.
We then marched and sang our way back to the park, where Shirly Peisly gave a talk on racism from an Aboriginal perspective. In closing, the MC for the day, Sally Biddle from the AFMEU, stressed the importance of continuing to organise against racism in our society. ARA can be contacted by ringing Andrew on 231 6982.
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