Refugee Action Collective (Vic)

Free the refugees! Let them land, let them stay!

ART meets ACTIVISM

Come to our art auction fundraiser in support of refugees on Saturday 12 November.

The event will be held at the Meat Market in North Melbourne at 2pm, with doors open at midday for viewing.

Leading artists have donated works to highlight the need to treat refugees and asylum-seekers with dignity and compassion.

Three of those artists have refugee experience and will receive 100 per cent of the sale price for their artwork. All other funds raised will be shared between the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP) and RAC.

View the artworks online at ART meets ACTIVISM.

Check out the Facebook event.

Image is Happy Girl by Deborah Halpern.

Car convoy fines update

RAC supporters are continuing to contest the fines imposed on Good Friday 2020 for taking part in a COVID-safe car convoy around the Mantra Hotel in Preston, where Medevac refugees were being held.

Thirty refugee supporters were fined $1652 each, taking the total bill for standing up for refugee rights to about $50,000.

RAC activist Chris Breen was arrested at home the same day and charged with incitement for allegedly posting a Facebook event promoting the car convoy. He won his case in court in March this year.

The legal process of challenging the fines has been long and drawn out, partly because there is a case in the Supreme Court of Victoria which may well affect the magistrate’s decision in the RAC case.

On 6 September, the RAC case was adjourned once again.

There will be a special conference on 21 December, where legal matters arising in the light of the Supreme Court case will be discussed. This will be followed by a contest mention on 7 March 2023.

RAC will continue to campaign for the right to protest for refugees.

Find out more about the campaign and show your support.