Refugee Activists to Support SMS-promoted Rally Against Race Hate

Refugee activists have blamed federal government refugee policies for the race riots in Cronulla, and are supporting a rally against racism and in solidarity with Sydney's Lebanese community on Friday,16 December, in Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall at 5pm.

Refugee activists have received reports from people all over Melbourne of having received and forwarded on an SMS message, like the one below, that spreads the word about tomorrow's counter-rally. Can this text spread as well as the race riot ones did?

"Non-violent protest against racist attacks Friday 16th 5pm Bourke St Mall. Spread this like wildfire."

The Refugee Action Collective believes responsibility for last Sunday's race riots lies squarely with the prime minister, John Howard and his government's relentless demonisation of refugees, particularly around the Tampa affair, as well as its cynical exaggeration of the terrorist threat.

These policies and rhetoric have given racists confidence, Andrew Cheeseman of the Refugee Action Collective said today.

"When you have a government that deliberately blurs the lines between refugees and terrorists, who paint refugees as a threat, and then refuses to embrace multiculturalism, this gives racists the confidence that they aren't isolated, but that they have a government backing them up."

"This government has actively fed racist ideas. It was only a matter of time before it erupted into racist violence. The Cronulla thugs are the result."

CONTACT: Andrew Cheeseman 0409 959 014