Anti-racism corroborrees and Sovereignty Never Ceded rallies were organised across the country on September 13 in at least 16 locations. They were a powerful push-back to the right’s attempts to declare that First Nations people have no say, that immigration must end and migrants are not welcome.
The national day of action was initiated by First Nations groups after the racist attacks on Camp Sovereignty in Naarm/Melbourne on August 31.
Chloe DS reports from Naarm/Melbourne that about 7000 people joined the Sovereignty Never Ceded mob-led rally at Flinders Street with a series of First Nations speakers. It marched to parliament, with protesters significantly outnumbering the right-wing protest, which only mobilised 1000 people.
The anti-racist protest then marched back to the State Library to conclude the protest.
There was a strong spirit among the 500–100 people who attended the Sovereignty National Day of Action in Boorloo/Perth. The theme was “Nazis off our Streets”. The march started at King’s Park and ended in Forrest Place— many stayed for live music.
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A protest on unceded Dharug and Gundungurra Country in Katoomba drew anti-racist and pro-Palestine activists, who listened to speakers talk about the struggle against colonisation and state violence.
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Rain didn’t deter the spirits of 500 people who turned out to support First Nations sovereignty and to oppose racism and fascism in Magan-djin/Brisbane. Speakers included First Nations elders and local campaigners. Protesters marched to Musgrave Park behind a banner that read “Migrants stay, racists out”. Other banners read “Keep our children out of prison” and “Liberation, freedom, restitution”. The rally was organised by the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism Brisbane. A racist “Save Australia” rally was organised on the same day at the other end of town.
About 1000 joined the First Nations-led rally in Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide. Markela Panegyres reports that people waved flags representing migrant communities and wore keffiyehs to show their solidarity with Palestine. The rally opened with a smoking ceremony and a didgeridoo performance.
The rally was organised by Kaurna, Narrunga, Ngarrindjeri and Noongar actress and activist Natasha Wanganeen.
The key message was that migrants are welcome, but racists and Nazis are not. All speakers expressed solidarity with multicultural communities and condemned the racist attacks on Camp Sovereignty. The need for First Nations and migrant communities to work together for collective liberation was also highlighted. “Liberation means more than standing side by side. It means moving forward together for justice,” one speaker said.
Peter Boyle reports that at least 2000 people joined the corroboree and march against racism onGadigal Country/Sydney, organised by The Blak Caucus, expressed solidarity with Camp Sovereignty in Naarm and in response to the racist anti-immigration movement. It sent a clear message: “Racists are not welcome here!”
Speakers included Aunty Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor, who said her people have been living on this country for more than 60,000 years and are still here today. “Migrants are welcome. We say no to racism. We say no to white supremacy ... We have no room for violence and racism against anyone. We are all human, we are unique and we are amazing.”
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Blak Caucus spokespeopleElizabeth Jarrett and Paul Silva repeated that the way to deal with racism is to educate people.
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