By Graham Matthews and Chris Spindler
In response to Pauline Hanson's racist outbursts, and John Howard's tacit support for her views, anti-racism activists have started organising against racial harassment and funding cuts to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, and in support of immigration and refugees right to stay in Australia.
Around 5000 people rallied in Brisbane on November 2. The demands of the rally included increased funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; no cuts to immigration levels; no deportation of refugees; no discrimination against migrants in work, welfare or residence; and that Hanson apologise to those she has offended, and resign.
Speakers included Lionel Fogarty, Aboriginal poet and activist; Jorge Rodriguez from the Brisbane Migrant Workers' Resource Centre; Lawrence Ma from the Chinese community; Roberto Jorquera from the Democratic Socialist Party (DSP); and numerous others from the Aboriginal and migrant communities, trade and student unions, and political parties. Participants marched to Musgrave park chanting "say it loud, say it clear, racists are not welcome here".
The rally was organised by the Anti-Racism Campaign which is now discussing holding a rally in the town of Ipswich in Hanson's electorate of Oxley. ARC meets Mondays at 6pm at the Metro Arts Building, Edward Street, Brisbane. For more information phone (07) 3254 0565 or 3871 1446.
Over recent weeks, 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly sellers in Sydney have reported huge support for the anti-racist sentiments expressed on the covers of GLW. Many passers-by have signed petitions and asked how they can get involved in anti-racist activities.
More than 100 people attended a speak-out against racism on the steps of Sydney Town Hall on November 1. Many hundreds more signed petitions, took leaflets and bought badges. Resistance and the United Secondary Students' Union (USSU) collected names for a youth against racism campaign, while migrants, high school students and activists from Asian Australians Against Further Intimidation, the DSP and Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor, spruiked their anti-racist message.
That evening, more than 60 people attended a forum at the Resistance Centre where Ray Jackson from the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Watch Committee spoke about Australia's racist history since 1788. "History must recognise what has been done to the indigenous people of this country", he said.
Reihana Mohideen from the DSP said that it was impossible to have a non-racial debate on immigration in a country that's immigration policy was founded on the "white Australia" concept since federation.
Paul Howes from USSU read a statement from the union and called for a campaign to combat it.
A broad Campaign Against Racism coalition has been formed in Sydney. CAR meets on Thursdays at 7pm at 2 Albion Place, Sydney. It needs support to build a demonstration on November 23-24. (See pages 30-31 for details.)