No racism!
BY TAMARA PEARSON
Across Australia, thousands rallied on December 9 to commemorate International Human Rights Day. While the theme of the event varied across the country, the dominant demands were: "Stop the war in Afghanistan!" and "Human rights for refugees!".
In Sydney 700 people gathered in Hyde Park to demand an end to the war and racism. Sean Marshall from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union called the US-led "war on terror" a "carnival of hypocrisy". "We pursue peace because it's the ordinary working class people who suffer from war", he said.
NSW Greens MP Ian Cohen told the crowd that "its justice we want, not vengeance". Condemning the US government's support for Israeli terrorism, he aroused cheering and clapping when he said "as a person of Jewish decent, I support a free Palestine".
Proceeding down George Street, the protest swelled as several hundred others joined the march. The marchers included loud, colourful contingents of Palestinian activists and refugee supporters. The march finished at a festival at Belmore Park.
Graham Matthews reports that 700-1000 people gathered on December 9 at Melbourne's City Square to protest the war in Afghanistan, and to call on the Australian government to welcome the refugees of war.
Sheik Issa Mussa, Somalian Islamic leader, spoke boldly of his opposition to the war. "It is becoming common to suggest that Islam is friendly to crime and terrorism", he said.
Refugee rights and Greens activist Pamela Curr reflected on the inhumanity of the Australian government's refugee policy. "Any country where human rights are under attack risks its peace", she said. A lively and colourful march through town to the Treasury Gardens followed the speakers.
Gary Meyerhoff reports that 200 people gathered in the hot, drenching rain of the Darwin wet season to protest against the "war on terrorism" and the Australian government's inhumane treatment of refugees.
Speakers included the Socialist Alliance's Kate Stockdale, who condemned the increasing police powers in Australia and overseas.
Soon after Stockdale spoke, the police officers present took control of the megaphone to "explain" to the crowd that they had denied the rally's permit to march along Trower Road, a three-lane arterial causeway. The protesters were told they would be prosecuted if they attempted the intended march. No protest has marched along Trower Road in at least a decade.
After passionate discussion, the protest voted to march anyway. Blocking Trower Road completely, the 150-strong protest wound its way for more than half-an-hour to the Nightcliff markets. Protesters chanted all the way, calling out "The people united, will never be defeated!" and "NT, police state, we do not appreciate".
Marching triumphantly into the markets, protesters then listened to a one-hour concert featuring local poets, singers and dances from the Kirabati Multicultural Association.
From Adelaide, Kathy Newnam reports that 500 people participated in a "peace walk" across the city, culminating in a festival.
Two hundred people came out in Brisbane, Tim Stewart reports, demanding: Stop the bombing: troops home now! Speakers included representatives from the Network Opposing War and Racism, the Maritime Union of Australia, the Public Transport Union, the Greens and Labor MP Karen Struthers.
In Perth, 250 people gathered around the slogan "Stop the war, no Australian support, respect human rights", Anthony Benbow reports.
The protest was addressed by Jo Valentine from People for Nuclear Disarmament, Peter Wilkie from the Refugee Rights Action Network, Chris Latham from the Network Against War and Racism and Eman Seif, who spoke of the racism currently experienced by Muslim women in Australia.
Kerryn Williams reports that 80 people rallied against the Afghanistan war on the main street of Canberra, cheered on by the beeping horns of supportive motorists.
Helen McCue from Bowral received a rousing response from the demonstrators when she explained the new campaign initiatives of Rural Australians for Refugees, including the establishment of "welcome towns" and production of "welcome books" for refugees.
Kamala Emanuel reports from Hobart that the 100-strong annual Human Rights Week march, held on December 8, took up the theme of peace and reconciliation. Banners and placards featured calls for justice for refugees, and opposition to the war in Afghanistan.
From Green Left Weekly, December 12, 2001.
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