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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.


on the bridge

herded into the detention centre

"Why am I locked up in here?"

Refugee Action Collective - Gippsland

banner

Left: The refugees are set free

Right: Wreath commemorationg 360 drowned.

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

 
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