About 1000 people rallied in Melbourne for refugee rights on October 11. The date marked the one year anniversary of Operation Sovereign Borders.
About 300 protesters from the Kurdish community, marching to defend Kobani, joined the rally.
Former detainee Reza Yarahmadi spoke against Temporary Protection Visas. He said: "You know what TPV stands for? I call it Toilet Paper Visa. It is not worth more than that."
Australian Council of Trade Unions president Ged Kearney condemned Operation Sovereign Borders. She said: "It is steeped in such lies, a crisis that does not exist."
A rally was also held in Sydney on the same day. About 1000 protestors marched from Sydney’s Town Hall through the Pitt St mall, calling for no more deportations and an end to mandatory detention.
Speakers included Afghan refugee Sumaya Haidari, Refugee Action Coalition spokesperson Ian Rintoul, NSW Greens candidate Jenny Leong and Catholic nun Susan Connelly.
Photos: Ali Bakhtiarvandi
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