Photo credit: the Guardian
In what appears to be an ill wind blowing across Europe, anti-immigration rallies are set to happen on Sunday in Australia.
SBS News reports that controversial anti-immigration protests are set to take place in major cities across the country with ‘March for Australia” organisers calling for an end to what they describe as the government’s policy of “mass migration.”
While the government has strongly condemned the demonstrations, some migrant workers have expressed fears that protesters will target them at the anti-migrant rallies, and some Indian community leaders have urged immigrants living in Australia to “stay inside” for their “safety”.
A large police presence is expected, with several other events happening in some capital cities at the same time.
It’s still unclear who the organisers are, but the official March for Australia Instagram account has distanced itself from extremist figures.
Some organisers with the group March for Australia distanced themselves from the event after, neo-Naxi Thomas Sewell called the protests “our” rally on the messaging app Telegram.
Although details of the protests organisers’ site are minimal, the group has emphasised one rule for the march – “no foreign flags”.
Ahead of the marches, a flurry of social media posts claimed 1,500 migrants were arriving in Australia each day, which was repeated on talkback radio.
But the Australian Bureau of Statistics warned that migration numbers they used were not an accurate reflection of immigration.
Antti-racism marches will also take place at the same time in Sydney and Melbourne.
In Queensland, a multicultural food festival is being held not far from the rally site. Police have sought to allay fears that the event could be targeted, saying there will be no clashes.
A pro-Palestinian march will also take place in Sydney while more than 35,000 runners are expected to participate in the Sydney Marathon on Sunday. The marathon is a 42km race starting in North Sydney and finishing at the Opera House.
The police in Sydney will be sending up to 1,000 officers to patrol parts of the inner-city.
Victoria Police said it had planned a “significant operational response” and would declare the Melbourne CBD a designated area, allowing people to be searched for weapons and be asked to remove face coverings. It also warned that there could be conflict between the anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protestors.
The government has opposed the rallies, with the Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke saying, “Nothing could be less Australian”.
The Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly said the government stood with all Australians, no matter where they were born, against “hose who seek to divide us and who seek to intimidate migrant communities.
“This brand of far0rigt activism grounded in racism and ethnocentrism has no place in modern Australia.”
Opposition leader Sussan Ley said, “In Australia, we protect the right to an opinion and the right to protest. But that must be done peacefully and respectfully. There is no place for violence, racism or intimidation.”
Greens immigration spokesperson David Shoebridge said, “While a handful of bigots are pushing to divide us, let’s instead centre and empower the millions of Australians who are helping to build and be part of, a caring and welcoming country.”
Greens anti-racism spokesperson Mehreen Faruqi said, “These rallies mist be called out for what they are, acts of racist fearmongering and hate.”
