National Day of Action
Southbank, Melbourne, 1 November 2002

The rally on Southbank began with a group of refugees being herded across the footbridge over the Yarra by a couple of evil-looking characters in army gear. The detention centre was waiting for them, and there they had to stay for the duration of the speeches.

The gathering observed a one minute silence as a mark of respect for the 360 refugees who drowned off Java and others who lost their lives on the way to seek refuge in Australia, and a wreath was cast into the Yarra.

Then a popular uprising forced the release of the detainees, and everyone marched off along the river, through the tourists and the craft market, to join an anti-war rally in the City Square. As always there was a good showing of banners, including some new ones.

Top right: Apparently this was such a convincing performance of a distressed refugee mother, after the event two men came to make sure the baby was all right, and were rather sheepish upon discovering the 'baby' was in fact a doll - and these men were of the ethnic extraction that John Winston Howard would have us believe throw their babies in the sea.

Left: The refugees are set free

Right: Wreath commemorationg 360 drowned.

More info on these drownings at www.sievx.com/