Free Movement of the People - March and Rally in Sydney
A jubilant crowd of people from a variety of social movements took to the streets today in Sydney, Australia. Hundreds, possibly thousands of people according to the Australian public broadcaster ABC.
Free Movement of the People
March and Rally in Sydney
14 Nov 2002
A jubilant crowd of people from a variety of social movements took to the streets today in Sydney, Australia. Hundreds, possibly thousands of people according to the Australian public broadcaster ABC. In the first of the public actions co-ordinated to protest the WTO mini-ministerial meeting this weekend, their focus was on Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock and the treatment of refugees by the Australian state.
An impressive demonstration of support was already gathering in front of the Town Hall around 5pm with paper sellers, stall holders and badge and balloon vendors doing a brisk but strictly non-profit trade. Representatives from the No One Is Illegal Collective, Socialist Alliance, Sydney No Borders, Resistance, Refugee Action Coalition and a number of other affinity groups associated with the NoWTO network including the Education Bloc, Black Bloc and the trusty first aiders of the Medical Bloc.
Public speakers formalized the proceedings with well managed switches between multiple PA systems, speaking about the conditions refugees face in Australia's "Detention Centes" a government euphimism for guarded concentration camps in the Outback. After a warning to the rally that the Police had denied organisers legal permits to march the demonstration moved off. Led by an enthusiastic troop of radical cheerleaders they filled George Street with bodies and banners. These included "Democracy/ WTO" with opposite facing arrows beside them and "Refugees Behind Fences, Workers Behind Borders, Capital Moves Freely" accompanied by chants like "Free, free the refugees, send John Howard overseas" and "Refugees yes, racism no. WTO has got to go".
People from the march moved freely on and off the street, confusing the police escort by interacting with passers-by, handing out leaflets and photographing and videographing the marching activists from various convenient high places. Pictures and more info as it comes to hand.
Danyl Strype
@nti-copyright
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