Stand up for refugees rally: End detention now

Sunday, October 11, 2015 - 14:00

Speakers include:

*David Isaacs
Nauru whistleblower and Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Westmead Children's Hospital & Sydney University
*Ian Rintoul, Refugee Action Coalition
*Abdul Hakim, Syrian refugee

Demands: * No to the Border Force Act * Close Manus, close Nauru * Raise the refugee intake * No deportations * No boat turnbacks

Endorsed by: ChilOut, NSW Greens, Labor for Refugees (NSW), Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group, Asylum Seeker Centre, Sydney Uni Postgraduate Representative Association, Refugee Action Coalition

The refugee crisis in Europe has produced a dramatic change in attitudes towards refugees. The government has accepted 12,000 more refugees from Syria as a result of pressure to act. But senior government ministers including Malcolm Turnbull want to prioritise Christian refugees and discriminate against Muslims.

There is an opening to demand the reversal of the government's wider anti-refugee policies. There are Syrian refugees in Villawood, and on Manus and Nauru that the government has tried to send back to Syria. They and refugees from all countries should be released.

Support for refugees is growing. There has been widespread defiance of the government's attempt to silence detention whistle-blowers through the Border Force Act. Doctors, teachers and allied health workers have all staged protests and declared their intent to defy the law. Join our major protest on 11 October and invite your friends so we can continue the momentum.