Against Asylum Seekers
#LetThemStay: Thousands gather in cities all over Australia to rally against asylum seekers deported back to Nauru
Thousands of protesters gather in cities all over Australia on Wednesday calling on to the Federal Government not to deport 267 asylum seekers back to Nauru. The protest was in response to the High Court ruling allowing almost 300 asylum seekers, including 72 children to be sent back to offshore detention at Nauru.
ABC reported the demonstrators gathered in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Perth, while smaller demonstrations joined together in Newcastle, Canberra and the Victorian city of Bendigo. The biggest protest in Australia was outside Melbourne’s State Library where at least 5000 people gathered.
According to The Guardian,
protests began in Bendigo, followed by a demonstration outside Malcolm Turnbull’s Wentworth electoral office in Sydney and rallies in Newcastle, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide and Perth in the early evening.
Several thousand demonstrators carried out banners and placards with messages saying “welcome asylum seekers, people just like us”, “justice for refugees” and cried out “close the camps” and “let them stay” to express their displeasure with the government's policies for asylum seekers. The big crowd in Melbourne repeatedly chanted “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”.
Meanwhile the High Court verdict spurred a number of Australian churches to offer refuge to asylum seekers facing deportation. BBC news reported ten Anglican and Uniting churches are willing to offer sanctuary. The Anglican Dean of Brisbane Dr. Peter Catt said asylum seekers especially children would likely face trauma if deported. A medical report recently found out 95% of children detained showed threats of post-traumatic stress disorder having an overwhelming fear of being returned to Nauru and instances of attempted suicide.
Historically, churches have accommodated those who are seeking refuge from cruel and oppressive forces, thus compelling them to act regardless of the possibility of having penalty. However, even if the asylum seekers would want to take sanctuary, they are not free to do so. They are held in detention centers in mainland Australia.
The asylum seekers were brought to Australia for medical treatment. Demonstrators planned further protests in Brisbane, Hobart, Launceston and again in Adelaide not to take asylum seekers back to Nauru.
Thousands of protesters gather in cities all over Australia on Wednesday calling on to the Federal Government not to deport 267 asylum seekers back to Nauru. The protest was in response to the High Court ruling allowing almost 300 asylum seekers, including 72 children to be sent back to offshore detention at Nauru.
ABC reported the demonstrators gathered in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Perth, while smaller demonstrations joined together in Newcastle, Canberra and the Victorian city of Bendigo. The biggest protest in Australia was outside Melbourne’s State Library where at least 5000 people gathered.
According to The Guardian,
protests began in Bendigo, followed by a demonstration outside Malcolm Turnbull’s Wentworth electoral office in Sydney and rallies in Newcastle, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide and Perth in the early evening.
Several thousand demonstrators carried out banners and placards with messages saying “welcome asylum seekers, people just like us”, “justice for refugees” and cried out “close the camps” and “let them stay” to express their displeasure with the government's policies for asylum seekers. The big crowd in Melbourne repeatedly chanted “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”.
Meanwhile the High Court verdict spurred a number of Australian churches to offer refuge to asylum seekers facing deportation. BBC news reported ten Anglican and Uniting churches are willing to offer sanctuary. The Anglican Dean of Brisbane Dr. Peter Catt said asylum seekers especially children would likely face trauma if deported. A medical report recently found out 95% of children detained showed threats of post-traumatic stress disorder having an overwhelming fear of being returned to Nauru and instances of attempted suicide.
Historically, churches have accommodated those who are seeking refuge from cruel and oppressive forces, thus compelling them to act regardless of the possibility of having penalty. However, even if the asylum seekers would want to take sanctuary, they are not free to do so. They are held in detention centers in mainland Australia.
The asylum seekers were brought to Australia for medical treatment. Demonstrators planned further protests in Brisbane, Hobart, Launceston and again in Adelaide not to take asylum seekers back to Nauru.