More than 150 people joined a community-initiated anti-racism rally in Dandenong on August 16, marching from Dandenong Market to Harmony Square. The action was initiated by Free Palestine Dandenong and Rhonda Garad, a City of Greater Dandenong Councillor.
A range of speakers, all of whom shared a lived experience of racism, addressed the crowd.
Samar Geid — of a Sudanese/Egyptian background who was born in Lebanon and works as an anti-racism project lead for Wellsprings for Women in Dandenong — highlighted her direct experiences of racism. “When you witness racism, do not look away,” she said.
Garad highlighted her daughters’ experience of being targeted by Victorian police as a result of their Sudanese background. “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.”
Mohamed Mohideen OAM, vice president of the Islamic Council of Victoria, criticised the minority in society peddling hatred against migrants. “We all belong to the human race; we are no different from any other person and we all have the same blood.”
He said the community needs “to stand together against racism”. He also criticised the Anthony Albanese government’s refusal to condemn Israel’s three-year genocide against Palestinians.
Seona Cho, a Korean migrant worker and socialist, said an upsurge in racism only serves the interests of a wealthy minority and is against the interests of the working class. She said migrants at work, whether as a cleaner, nurse or nail technician, are never asked to “show their passport”, showing their necessity to many industries.
Chloe DS, a Socialist Alliance member who co-chaired the rally, said billionaires and politicians are using overblown claims of “mass migration” as the reason for housing unaffordability. DS said they are using the housing crisis “to distract us” from the root cause of the crisis — the major parties’ support for laws that benefit landlords and property developers at the expense of working people.
Samim Moslih, a former Afghan refugee and community advocate, and Muayad Ali, Palestinian activist with Free Palestine Dandenong, also spoke.
