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BRIEF
Fighting racism in the NSW election

Emily Veness & Lee Dulihanty, Sydney

10 March 2007

Political fervour, passion and a fighting spirit marked the “Fighting racism in the NSW state election” forum held by the Socialist Alliance Parramatta branch on March 6.

Chaired by Socialist Alliance candidate Rachel Evans, the event targeted the growing epidemic of racism in Australia. The three speakers — Socialist Alliance candidates Jakalene X and Raul Bassi, and special guest Mamdouh Habib — put forward thought-provoking views on how to override the growing undercurrent of Islamaphobia and racism in this country.

Jakalene X, an Aboriginal activist and rap artist, alluded to her own struggles as an Aboriginal Australian and the despair she feels when she witnesses her people giving up in the fight against racism. “People today are so tired, they don’t have time to think. [We have] a whole world that doesn’t care — not because they don’t want to, but because they feel they don’t have time to.” She said it’s time to “wake up” and that “together we are stronger”.

Habib discussed the government’s use of racism and fear as a tool to manipulate and mould society into a pacified state. “Today’s politicians gamble. We are John Howard’s playing cards”, he said. “To be selfish, to live only for your own life, means [the government] has succeeded in leeching the life from you.”