By Jorge Jorquera
MELBOURNE — More than 300 anti-racist activists and local residents protested against the policies of One Nation in Footscray on July 4. The rally was organised by the Democratic Socialists and Resistance. Participants came from local high schools, the Vietnamese community and other migrant communities.
Before the rally, a local Turkish shop owner set up a table full of free food for rally goers. Participants signed petitions and contact lists for future actions.
"I am glad to be back in the suburb I grew up in, with so many voicing their active opposition to the racist scapegoating politics of One Nation", Democratic Socialist candidate for the federal seat of Melbourne Maurice Sibelle told the protesters. "We have to build a militant opposition to Hanson and also to the anti-worker policies of Liberal and Labor, who are responsible for the insecurity and hardship of which One Nation takes advantage."
The rally heard from a Footscray high-school student and a representative of the Vietnamese community before marching through the suburban streets, chanting and "jumping against Pauline Hanson". Many others joined the march as they saw hundreds of people approaching, jumping up and down and loudly opposing Hanson's racism.
The socialist youth organisation Resistance has called a rally outside the Liberal Party headquarters to focus on the Coalition's racist agenda. The rally, to be held on July 10 at 4pm, outside 104 Exhibition Street, is part of the activities around the Resistance national conference being held from July 11-13 at the Resistance Centre, 14 Anthony Street in the city. Phone 9329 1277 for more information.