‘Unity’ is the theme for this year’s Refugee Week (20–26 June), and nowhere else was this sentiment more evident than at the Palm Sunday – Justice for Refugees Rally, which took place earlier this year.
Thousands of individuals, families, and organisations united to show their support and solidarity to those refugees and people seeking asylum who have and continue to be mistreated by our nation’s immigration policies.
Commencing at the steps of the State Library of Victoria, the rally concluded outside the Carlton Park Hotel. The hotel-turned-makeshift-detention-centre was still detaining up to 13 refugees on the day of the rally, many of which could be seen through the darkly tinted fourth-level windows.
Amongst the many passionate participants rallying outside the detention centre, was Greater Dandenong City Council, proudly representing the Local Government Mayoral Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum.
Mayor Cr Angela Long and councillors Eden Foster, Lana Formoso and Rhonda Garad stood united under the Back Your Neighbour banner, calling for a humane and empathetic approach to be adopted by the Federal Government in its treatment of refugees and people seeking asylum. Back Your Neighbour continues its efforts to promote unity, by advocating for greater rights for refugees and people seeking asylum.
To show your support, sign the Back Your Neighbour petition by visiting www.backyourneighbour.com.au
