Sydney rally agains racism

Sydney rally agains racism

SYDNEY — Up to 1500 people attended a rally against racism at Hyde Park on April 12. Protesters came from as far afield as Cabramatta and Bankstown to demand an end to the government's racist attacks on migrants and Aborigines. Placards saying "Vietnamese Australians demand equality", "Let the East Timorese refugees stay !" and colourful banners demanding "Justice not reconciliation" adorned a spirited march to First Fleet Park. Representatives spoke from the Democrats, the Labour Council and the ALP, as well as from various ethnic and community organisations. They condemned proposals to amend the Racial Discrimination Act and angrily opposed Pauline Hanson's policies of slashing immigration and abolishing multiculturalism. The organisers, Campaign against Racism, pointed out the need to campaign to defend migrant and Aboriginal rights. Triple J's Helen Razor entertained the crowd as she referred to the "Oxleymoron" and reflected the sentiments of the day by telling people to "buy sensible walking shoes" because we're going to need to do a lot of marching. — Francesca Davidson

From GLW issue 270