The Palm Sunday rally for refugees on 20 March was a great success with around 4000 people demonstrating in Sydney and thousands more across the country. You can see a short video reports from Sky News and SBS TV below, photos at the Facebook event here, or photos from around the country here. Photos at left of Sydney rally by Vlaudin Vega.
Refugees on Nauru also staged their own protest on the day, see photos here and a video here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t7Diht1y3E
Speakers included:
Joel Shakespeare (former Save the Children worker on Nauru)
Jessica Walker (Queensland Teachers Union, Yeronga High School & Save Mojgan campaign)
Dr Sue Wareham (Medical Association for Prevention of War)
Faith speakers including: Rev John Barr (President, NSW Ecumenical Council) Ms Wies Schuiringa (Religious Society of Friends – Quakers) Rev Myung Hwa Park (Uniting Synod NSW/ACT)
Fr Shenouda Mansour (Coptic Orthodox Church) Rabbi Jacki Ninio (Emanuel Synagogue) Rabbi Gad Krebs (Kehillat Masada Synagogue)
Ian Rintoul (Refugee Action Coalition)
Shokufa Tahiri (Afghan refugee)
Thanks to all the endorsing organisations: Asylum Seekers Centre, Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition, Australian Services Union NSW & ACT, Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group, Catholic Religious Australia, Carmelite JPIC, Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum, ChilOut, Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Franciscan Friars Province of the Holy Spirit, Grandmothers against Detention of Refugee Children, Independent and Peaceful Advocacy Network (IPAN NSW), Independent Education Union NSW/ACT, Labor for Refugees NSW, Loves Makes a Way, Marrickville Peace Group, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, MUA Sydney branch, Mums for Refugees, National Council of Churches in Australia, National Tertiary Education Union NSW, NSW Ecumenical Council, NSW Greens, NSW Teachers Federation, Pax Christi Australia, People Just Like Us, Quaker Peace and Justice NSW, Refugee Action Coalition, Refugee Council of Australia, SEARCH Foundation, Sisters of St Joseph, Socialist Alliance, Socialist Alternative, Social Justice In Early Childhood, Solidarity, Sydney Peace & Justice Coalition, Unions for Refugees, Unions NSW, Uniting Church Synod of NSW and ACT, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
Palm Sunday 2016 rallies in other cities
NSW
Newcastle: Railway Sheds, Newcastle Foreshore Park, 11.30am
https://www.facebook.com/events/220958594917089/
Wollongong: North Wollongong Bathers Pavillion, 1pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/172665473108259/
Murwillumbah: Tweed Shire Council Chambers, 2pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/1316445581714687/
Armidale: Civic Park, 11:30am
https://www.facebook.com/events/180905955614222/
Lennox Head: Beach side of Ballina St, Lennox Head near the bus stop opposite the shops,10.30am. Contact Ballinarr@gmail.com
Interstate
Adelaide: 2.30pm Parliament House
https://www.facebook.com/events/604246226390005/
Brisbane: Queens Park, 1pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/1396770633955743/
Canberra: Garema Place, 1pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/530421310459429/
Darwin: Nightcliff Wharf, 5pm – march to Nightcliff Jetty
http://dassan.weebly.com/palm-sunday-peace-march.html
Launceston: Gathering at 1.45pm for 2.00pm start at Prince’s Square and heading to the City Park
Melbourne: State Library, 2pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/1045381425492119/
Perth: St. Georges Cathedral, 1pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/160070984369825/
