Rally against One Nation in Werribee

By Paul Miller

MELBOURNE -- Around 700 protesters organised by Campaign Against Racism rallied outside the Werribee West Family Centre on July 14 to protest against Pauline Hanson's One Nation party launch.

Since the large rally at Dandenong on July 8, the media have been exaggerating the violence at that rally, and as a result the turnout at Werribee was smaller.

After the Dandenong rally, CAR decided that it would supply marshals to prevent confrontations that would give the media an excuse to claim that violent incidents had been created by anti-Hanson protesters. CAR also adopted a position of a peaceful attitude towards Hanson supporters.

At one stage a Hanson supporter went out into the crowd and tried to gain access to the speaking platform. She also assaulted one of CAR's marshals. Apart from this incident, the rest of the night went smoothly.

There was a great feeling, a somewhat carnival atmosphere. The rally was able to get the message across -- that migrants and the Aborigines are not at fault for our economic woes; that the two major parties in Australia are at fault.

The speakers stressed that non-violent but militant demonstrations are the only way to build a vibrant anti-racism struggle.

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