Melbourne: Rally: #Bring the Refugees Here

Community, health and education workers: Bring the Refugees Here

Tuesday, May 2 at 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
State Library of Victoria

Organised by

Teachers 4 Refugees
Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association – VAHPA
ANMF – Victorian Branch

As part of our week of “t-shirt actions”*, teachers, nurses, health professionals, librarians, and academics will come together for this vigil to demand the Australian government:

• Close Manus and Nauru and Bring the Refugees here
• End mandatory detention
• Issue permanent protection visas not temporary visas.

As educators, community workers and health professionals, we see the destructive impact of refugee deterrence policies and rhetoric.

Despite the Border Force Act and other restrictions on our freedom to speak out about injustices we see in the course of our work, we cannot be silent.

Nauru and Manus have been internationally condemned and Manus was declared illegal in April last year- yet refugees are still detained there. We are responsible for promoting health, education, wellbeing, access to information and community services. But refugees are denied access to health, safety, education, resettlement and to our community. The billions wasted on offshore detention must be spent instead on health, education and services to help welcome and resettle refugees, and build our communities.

Anti-refugee racism is having a toxic impact on our communities and workpaces. We say no to racism and fear, and yes to solidarity and social justice.

Speakers to be announced.