LOCAL passionate advocates will march to end cruelty to refugees and asylum seekers on Sunday.
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The event has organised by Armidale Rural Australians for Refugees to show support for the #letthemstay and #bringthemhere campaign.
Co-organiser Elizabeth O’Hara said the march, which is happening across the country, gave local people the opportunity to stand in solidarity.
“We need a bi-partisan system which is in keeping with our international obligations and common humanity,’ Ms O’Hara said.
“It is hard to believe that, almost five years after our first protests against mandatory offshore detention, this policy which denies natural justice to those seeking asylum and refugees continues.
“Thousands of people have been held on Nauru and Manus Island during the last four years, and the deliberate cruelty of the offshore detention regime has resulted in nine deaths.
“It’s empowering to join other people together as community because we know it is immoral and unethical.”
In 2016, more than 180 people gathered together for the same reason.
Ms O’Hara said the government needed to see the support for stopping the detaining of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia.
“Many people have developed serious mental illness as they live in untold misery and despair,” Ms O’Hara said.
“Australia is the only country in the world to detain children in indefinite detention.
“A lot of us are just overwhelmed by how awful we are treating the refugees.”
Organiser Frances Letters said Australia is responsible for these people.
“Instead of spending millions to prolong their despair, Australia should immediately offer protection to those who are refugees, and review the claims of those who do not have refugee status,” Ms Letters said.
“The humane thing to do is to #bringthemhere and #letthemstay.”
The event will start at Central Park from 11am with guest speakers talking after the march.
- Details: lizarmidale@nsw.chariot.net.au.