This is an update on Melbourne's peace movement from A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) - a coalition of social-justice, union, green, religious and peace activists.
On Sunday 21 October, another rally (the eighth in six weeks) was held in central Melbourne protesting against war and racism. The rally began in the City Square, where various speakers addressed the crowd. The participants then marched through the city streets (via Elizabeth Street and the Bourke Street Mall)to the intersection of Swanston and La Trobe Streets, where anti-war activists have established a day-and-night Peace Vigil in tents on the lawns at the front of the State Library of Victoria. For many of the participants in the march, this was probably their first glimpse of the Peace Vigil. Tents have sprung up all over the lawns. An amplifying system had been set up outside the State Library, and musicians and singers performed from an impromptu stage on the footpath. Many people stayed on there, sitting on the grass to take in the entertainment. It is significant that an anti-war movement has developed so quickly in Australia in recent weeks. It is only six weeks since the terrible atrocities in New York and Washington DC on September 11. The first Melbourne rally was on Sunday 16 September, just six days after the atrocities . Since then, at least one rally has been held each week, and in some weeks two anti-war events have been held. The three most recent rallies have been held after the USA began bombing Afghanistan. The Melbourne rallies have consistently condemned the atrocities that occurred in New York and Washington DC but they have also condemned the use of STATE terror as a reponse. The rallies have also condemned the racist nature of this military action (the world's richest nation bombing one of the world's poorest nations), plus the racist attacks on Australians of Middle Eastern origin and the vandalising of Islamic buildings in Australia, as well as the racist scapegoating of asylum seekers. Apart from the eight rallies in central Melbourne, there have also been localised events in the suburbs. On Saturday 20 October, activists set up a microphone and amplifier at the Richmond's Saturday fresh-food market (behind the Richmond town hall). For an hour, activists from various groups set up literature tables and addressed the shoppers and handed out leaflets. FOR YOUR DIARY: On Sunday 4 November, two rallies will take place. The first (focussing on the racist treatment of the asylum seekers) will begin at SOUTHBANK at 1.00pm. At 2.00pm another rally (focussing on the bombing of Afghanistan and the racist scapegoating of Islam) will begin in the City Square. It will be possible for people to take part in both rallies. Most, though not all, of Melbourne's rallies have been organised by A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) - a coalition of social-justice, union, green, religious and peace activists. ANSWER can be contacted by phone at 9419 8700 or by email at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
