More than 150 people turned out to support a community-initiated anti-racism rally in Broadmeadows on July 25.
Organised by Hume for Humanity and Socialist Alliance Merri-bek Councillor Sue Bolton, it successfully brought diverse communities together to show that they reject the racist scapegoating of First Nations people, migrants and Muslims.
Speakers included: Waseem Razvi, an Iman from the Alliance against Islamophobia; Godfrey Moase, Executive Director of the United Workers Union; Radhika Kumar, from the Periyar Ambedkar Thoughts Circle of Australia; Sheikh Alaa Alzokm, Imam of the El Sedeaq mosque in Heidelberg; Anasina Gray-Barberio, Northern Metropolitan Greens MLC; Wakka Wakka and Woolly Woolly man James Williams and Bolton.
The rally was endorsed by a broad range of community organisations, trade unions and political parties.
Razvi said One Nation’s white supremacist vision must be rejected in favour of a multiculturalism that includes everyone.
Moase characterised One Nation as a “tool of capital”, saying it “supports the economic interests of the bosses” and that it promotion of racism is about “dividing workers”.
Kumar spoke about how racism is built on fear and that migration should be welcomed and embraced. Williams said One Nation is trying to “reboot” the “rotten racist colonialism that is foundational to Australia”.
Alzokm said the major parties are unwilling to stand up to One Nation’s racism and argued the Labor Party is complicit. Gray-Barberi said Hanson’s racism must be rejected.
Bolton said Hanson’s racism is emboldening racists, pointing to the recent attack on a Muslim woman and her husband in Glenroy. Bolton, who is standing for Socialist Alliance in Broardmeadows, said Hanson’s policies will only be defeated by a mass movement being built outside parliament.
The spirited rally marched from Broadmeadows Town Hall to the Broadmeadows Town Park where the Victorian Socialists and Free Palestine Dandenong also addressed the crowd.
[Free Palestine Dandenong and Councillor Rhonda Garad have initiated a Unite Against Racism: Say no to Pauline Hanson’s hate rally on August 16 at 12noon at Dandenong Market. Jacob Andrewartha is running for Socialist Alliance in Pascoe Vale.]
