Anti-Hanson action in Adelaide

By Melanie Sjoberg

ADELAIDE -- More than 300 noisy protesters gathered outside the Hyatt Hotel on October 18 to demonstrate their opposition to Pauline Hanson and the Liberal government's racist agenda.

Many young people and people from Asian and Pacific islander communities attended.

Reading the Adelaide gutter press Sunday Mail the following morning, you would have discovered that the rally was a “near riot”, a situation saved by police barricades holding back those “hurling abuse”. This description could not have been further from the truth.

The colourful rally was bedecked with orange balloons and several vibrant banners with anti-racist slogans. Musicians and Pacific Island dancers performed between speakers. The crowd listened to contributions focusing on the politics rather than “abusing” the tuxedo-clad, chauffeur-driven entrants to the Hyatt.

Campaign Against Racism members chaired the rally, encouraging involvement in fighting all forms of racism, not just Hanson.

Michael Unger, speaking on behalf of Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor, raised the issue of East Timorese refugees being denied refuge by the Australian government and the need for solidarity with the struggle for democracy in Indonesia.

A piece of Pro Hart art work was publicly donated to CAR to help raise funds. The owner donated the work in response to Hart donating one of his works to the One Nation Party.

CAR will be auctioning the painting through James Bruce, 444-446 Pulteney Street, Adelaide, on November 3 at 6pm.

CAR will continue to hold regular stalls in the mall on Friday afternoons. This is also an action to reclaim the mall for progressive political action following harassment of CAR and young Asians by the neo-Nazi group National Action.

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