Protest treatment of Refugees

refugeeactioncollectivephoto

One year of Operation Sovereign Borders is one year too long.
Join the protest to

STOP THE WAR ON REFUGEES

2pm October 11 (tomorrow)
State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston St, Melbourne

Speakers include:
Ged Kearney – president Australian Council of Trade Unions
Reza Yarahmadi – Iranian refugee
Youhorn Chea – President Cambodian Association of Victoria, Cambodian refugee, and Dandenong Councillor
Asilaliraqi – Iraqi refugee
Adam Bandt MP – deputy Greens leader
Lisa Chesters – ALP MP for Bendigo
Boe Johnston – Nauru caseworker

Rally co-chairs: Mohammad Ali Baqiri – Afghan refugee,
and Chris Breen – Refugee Action Collective

*Permanent protection not temporary visas
*No Cambodia Deal
*No Boat Tow Backs
*No Offshore or Onshore Detenion
*Stop the scapegoating of refugees and Muslims

Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott’s war on refugees has been going on for almost a year now – after Kevin Rudd’s PNG deal paved the way for them. The war on refugees gets uglier by the day. Reza Barati was murdered, one man was shot, one had his throat cut and two men lost their eyes, in unprovoked attacks on asylum seekers on Manus Island by those who should have been responsible for their safety. Asylum seekers have been directly returned to their persecutors in Sri Lanka. 157 Tamil asylum seekers were kept prisoner in cramped windowless berths on the high seas for a month – Morrison was only forced to acknowledge their existence and bring them to Australia because of the efforts of the refugee movement. Rates of self-harm and mental health problems in detention are skyrocketing, they approach 50% on Manus Island. Children and babies are being kept on the hell-hole of Nauru, without access to decent education. Onshore and offshore detention and deterrence is costing close to $4 billion per year. Let Abbott know he can’t revive his political fortunes in the wake of his unfair budget by kicking refugees. This cruelty must stop. Join us on the first anniversary of Operation Sovereign Borders to demand an end to detention and deterrence, and instead welcome refugees, who should have the right to work in the Australian community while their claims are assessed.

Organised by the Refugee Action Collective, endorsed by: Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, The Victorian Greens, Refugee Advocacy Network, Tamil Coordinating Committee of Australasia, Tamil Refugee Council, Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project, Maritime Union of Australia, Communication Workers Union P&T VIC General, Communication Workers Union (T&S) Victoria, National Tertiary Education Union, Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, Australia-Tamil Solidarity, Writers For Refugees, Kommonground, Pax Christi (Vic), The Office for Justice & Peace Catholic & MCMRO Archdiocese of Melbourne, Daylesford Rural Australians for Refugees, Queenscliff Rural Australians for Refugees, Hampton Asylum-Seeker Support Association, Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce, Diaspora Action Australia, ChilOut, Geelong Trades Hall Council, Fitzroy Learning Network, Solidarity, Catholic Migration & Refugee Office , Socialist Alliance, Socialist Alternative, Geelong Refugee Action and Information Network, Australia Asia Worker Links, Gippsland Trades and Labour Council

What you can do:

Endorse the rally: email refugeeactioncollective@gmail.com or call Chris 0403 013 183 or Vanessa 0404 698 657

Bring a contingent to the rally: bring signs, banners, or symbols of your organisation eg union flags

Publicise the rally: put the details up on your website, forward this email, or contact RAC for posters or flyers to distribute in you area

Make a donation: Refugee Action Collective
Commonwealth Bank BSB: 063 262, Account 1025 2396 Send cheques to PO Box 578 Carlton South, Vic 3053.

We will march to Liberal Party headquarters

organised by the Refugee Action Collective
email refugeeactioncollective@gmail.com, call Chris 0403 013 183, Vanessa 0404 698 657 or visit www.rac-vic.org for more info