Hot on the heels of the successful student strike against Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, community organisations will rally in Dandenong on August 16 to say migrants are welcome and racism is not.
The “Unite against racism, migrants are welcome” rally, initiated by Free Palestine Dandenong and City of Greater Dandenong Councillor Rhonda Garad, includes migrant and refugee communities, faith groups, climate and housing justice collectives, as well as political parties and trade unionists.
The message is that One Nation and others' scapegoating of migrants for the cost-of-living and housing crises is wrong, with no basis in fact.
Chloe DS, one of the rally organisers, told Green Left that while One Nation represents the most extreme version of the rise in racism, the Liberal-National Coalition and the far right, are also seeking to blame migrants for “everyone’s hardships”. She also criticised Labor's move to crack down on backpacker visas, family reunions and the work and appeal rights for asylum seekers.
DS, who is a member of Socialist Alliance and active in Free Palestine Dandenong, said: “One Nation pretends to side with the people, but it is just another establishment party; Hanson wants to make sure that Australia’s richest woman, Gina Rhinehart, becomes even richer — at our expense.
“Racism doesn’t solve the cost-of-living or housing crisis, but it serves as a good distraction,” DS said. “It also sets working people against each other, which is convenient for the real culprits — government and big business.
Garad said racism is “everyone’s responsibility to challenge”. “They are trying to divide us by race and religion. We need to vaccinate ourselves against politically whipped-up hatred. Racism is the disease; solidarity is the cure. United, we are immune.”
There has also been a rise in attacks on migrants and refugees in the community, as well as attacks on people's right to protest against these injustices.
Matthew Kirwan, Green candidate for the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region, said: “Pauline Hanson wants Australians angry, divided and scared. We need to stand together as a community and protect our culturally diverse society, not succumb to hate and fear.”
Seona Cho, a Korean migrant worker who will address the rally said: “Australia depends on migrant workers; we clean hospitals, cook meals, care for the elderly, build homes and keep this country running. We deserve dignity and respect, not discrimination.”
Samim Moslih, former Afghan refugee and community advocate, who will also speak, believes that Australians all have an “obligation to fight radical racism”.
After the speakers at Dandenong Market, the rally will march to Dandenong Library at Harmony Square.
Speakers include:
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Cr Rhonda Garad, Independent Councillor, City of Greater Dandenong
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Mohamed Mohideen OAM, President of the Islamic Council of Victoria, former President of Monash Mosque and former Victorian Multicultural Commission Commissioner
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Samar Geid, Communications Coordinator at Wellsprings for Women, Anti-Racism Project Lead and community development advocate
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Samim Moslih, former Afghan refugee and community advocate
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Muayad Ali, Palestinian activist with Free Palestine Dandenong & Melbourne and local business owner
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Seona Cho, Korean migrant worker and socialist
[The rally is on August 16, 12noon, Dandenong Market, corner Clow Street and Cleeland Street. The full event details are here.