ChilOut holds Martin Place rally

SYDNEY — On the anniversary of the human rights commissioner's deadline for the release of all children from immigration detention centres, ChilOut organised a rally in Martin Place to highlight the fact that there are still 68 children in detention.

A message of support from the commissioner, Dr Sev Ozdowski, was read out to the crowd of about 300 people, who gathered for the protest rally.

Chaired by former Big Brother contestant Merlin Luck, the rally was also addressed by Sister Susan Connolly; Dr Louise Neuman, a member of the Alliance of Health Professionals for Asylum Seekers and child psychiatrist; Dianne Hiles, the national director of ChilOut; and two Afghan asylum seekers — Najeeba Wazefadost and Sayed Reza Moosawi, who described the precarious existence of temporary visa holders.

Gail Lord

From Green Left Weekly, June 22, 2005.

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From GLW issue 630