*Maribyrnong 2002 Protest and Festival* Friday 28th at 2pm and Saturday 29th 11am of June Maribyrnong Detention Centre, 53 Hampstead Rd., Maribyrnong Melways Ref. 27 H9
The campaign to free the refugees continues to build and grow, with 30,000 people rallying across Australia for refugee rights on Palm Sunday, and over a thousand people travelling to Woomera Detention Centre at Easter, where direct action saw fences torn down and refugees freed. Now, on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 of June, the struggle will be taken to the razor wire fences of Maribyrnong Detention Centre. Maribyrnong 2002 is a Festival/Protest featuring bands, cultural performances, stalls, food, music and direct action, all in the name of refugee rights. Different groups will bring their own ideas and actions to make Maribyrnong 2002 a colourful and vibrant political statement of support for refugees imprisoned in Australia's detention centres. Our aim is to continue the momentum of the movement to welcome refugees rather than cage them. THE EVENT On Friday: The Maribyrnong 2002 Protest/Festival will begin with a high school walkout on the Friday 28th. Students will gather outside Flinders Street Station at 12:30pm, before catching trains and trams out to the Maribyrnong Detention Centre for a rally at 2pm. At Maribyrnong they will participate in creating a community sculpture built at the entrance to the detention centre, representing a symbolic effort to stop forced deportations. This activity is inspired by the Maritime Union picket's creation of a community art project sculpture during the 1998 MUA dispute on the wharves. Bands will perform on a stage in Wattle st. (across the road from the detention centre) on Friday at 5pm. They include: The Smart Artisans (Hip Hop) Spare Change Society (Rap) Cindi Boste (female vocal) Goat (3 piece acoustic) The Chamber Sessions (jam session) On Saturday: Saturday's events will begin with a mass rally outside the center at 11am. The Greens will be presenting a panel discussion with representatives of various political parties putting their positions on the question of mandatory detention. This will be followed by the performance of a Footscray community multicultural choir, then a series of different bands and artists performing in support of refugee rights. Bands performing on Saturday (starting 2pm) include: The Little Red Look (folk) Things of Stone and Wood (acoustic pop rock) Snout (indie-alternative) H Block 101 (punk) Tenderfoot (raggae/ funk) Cabal (dub) Jess Macavoy (female acoustic) Cousin Leonard (ecclectic) Other activities: At 2pm, No one is illegal will be hosting a 'world game' soccer match of People v's Capital refereed by Rod Quantock. Fesitval-goers will be given the opportunity to throw rotten tomatoes at our Minister for Immigration, Phillip Ruddock and our Prime Minister, John Howard. and the Refugee Action Collective's Maribyrnong Detention Centre pinata will be smashed open. As an expression of solidarity and shared humanity with refugees, helium balloons, streamers and heart-shaped cards will be tied to the detention centre perimeter. Attempts to breach the fences in a strong display of civil disobedience will also occur. Throughout the festival, hard techno sound crew "AKA" will provide entertainment from a second sound system located at the back of the detention centre. A constant stream of bands, choirs, street theatre, food, cultural presentations and speakers are guaranteed to make for a vibrant and entertaining protest. WHO IS INVOLVED? This event is being organised and supported by an alliance of activist and political organisations, community groups, workers, students and individuals. It reflects the broad grassroots support for refugee rights. Organisations include: RAC - Refugee Action Collective: 9659 3505 Website:www.rac-vic.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Greens - Victoria: Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website: www.vic.greens.org.au No one is illegal: Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website: www.antimedia.net/nooneisillegal/ Friends of the Earth: Website: http://www.foe.org.au A HISTORY OF OF PROTEST AT MARIBYRNONG Maribyrnong Detention Centre has been the focus of protest for some time, with regular vigils in support of the detainees. In December 2000, Viliami Tanginoa committed suicide in the centre out of despair at being deported. His Death sparked protests inside the centre and in the Melbourne community, and a rooftop occupation was organised by the Refugee Action Collective to publicise the issue and exposed the coverup by Australasian Correctional Management, who run the centre. The fences and razor wire at Maribyrnong separate us on the outside from the refugees, people who we recognise as brothers and sisters, in need of support after enduring unimaginable suffering forcing them to flee to safety. They are a symbol of the racism and nationalism that the Liberals inflame to shore up their electoral prospects. Maribyrong Detention Centre has seen escapes, hunger strikes, occupations, peaceful protests, concerts and dozens of vigils by refugee supporters. Detainees have successfully demanded some basic rights such as being able to access food during the night - but only by going on a hunger strike. Demands, such as access to the grassy area inside the centre remain unsatisfied, and is a focus for the refugees in their struggle for human rights. Recently, an Iranian refugee named Nader was removed from Maribyrnong and forcibly deported to Iran. His brother, Nasser, also deported, has dissappeared. Nader's own likely fate is imprisonment, torture, and death. Come along to Maribyrnong 2002 to take part in what will become a historic protest and festival for refugee rights. Show your support for refugees and join in the fight against the injustices of Australia's mandatory detention system. For more information, call the Refugee Action Collective on 9659 3505 And visit the Maribyrnong Network website at: www.maribyrnong2002.org -- 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
