Adam Bandt to speak at the CARF United Rally: Free All Refugees
Although 46 men were freed from the Park Hotel, the fight for these refugees is far from over — with 13 men still imprisoned inside, along with more Medevac refugees detained in the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation.
There are still around 100 refugees detained in Kangaroo Point in Brisbane, and hundreds more in detention across the country and in PNG. Along with the Tamil family — Priya, Nades and their two kids — who are still imprisoned on Christmas Island.
Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe commented on the remaining refugees still imprisoned,"How do you celebrate, when there's still innocent people being tortured by the government?"
To help these men break out, the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (CARF) will be holding their largest United Rally on January 30, at 2pm outside the Park Hotel on Swanston St, Carlton.
The rally is being held to show defiance against the government in keeping these men in the dark, and their torture from the public’s eye. With the current Labour government headed by Daniel Andrews making no comment on the situation, their inaction is a direct endorsement to the inhumane imprisonment of these refugees.
Speakers on the day include Adam Bandt (Federal Greens leader), Anjali Sharma (School Strike 4 Climate), Lavanya Thavaraja (Migrant Workers' Centre) and Jorge Jorquera (Victorian Socialists councillor).
“We are protesting to demand these refugees are freed into the community, so that they can begin to mend their health and their lives,” says CARF organiser, Nahui Jimenez. “Let’s ensure these men are not simply forgotten by the public. It is so important to speak up and hold the government accountable for this inhumane torture.”
CARF encourages those who are against the torture of refugees to attend. The message that will be broadcasted at the rally is simple: Australians will not be complicit with the government’s barbaric torture of refugees, and that dignity, freedom and respect is a right for all.
Federal Greens leader, Adam Bandt has stated, “While these men have remained locked up, they’ve never given up their fight for justice backed up by community members who turned out week after week in solidarity.”
With a large number expected to attend the rally, CARF has also seen public endorsement from advocates including Samira Karimi, Hospo Voice and Mums 4 Refugees. As well as ongoing support from other CARF allies such as Victorian Greens, Tamil Refugee Council and the Refugee Action Collective — who have attended and organised rallies across the past eight years since these men were imprisoned.
The United Rally is a COVID-safe event, with all attendees to wear masks and socially distance. CARF will have COVID marshals onsite.
For more information contact [email protected]