When
Where
Prince Alfred Park
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
Why
Racist anti-immigration protests under the slogan 鈥淢arch for Australia鈥 are being held nationwide on 31 August. These rallies are an attempt to whip up hatred against migrants and multicultural communities.
Organisers have declared 鈥渇oreign flags鈥 banned at their protest and say they want an end to 鈥渕ass immigration鈥 and stand for 鈥渢he people, culture, and nation that built Australia鈥.
They want to direct anger about housing prices, unemployment and run down hospitals and public services onto migrants. But it is government underfunding and policies that hand tax breaks to rich housing investors that are really to blame.
March for Australia has attacked protests for Palestine, claiming 鈥淥ur streets have seen growing displays of anti-Australian hatred鈥 as people march about 鈥渇oreign conflicts鈥 like the genocide in Gaza.
Racism against Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians has surged due to the mainstream media鈥檚 bias against Palestine and the demonisation of resistance. This anti-immigration protest risks giving even more confidence to racists in the community to act out.
It is not clear which groups exactly are behind these racist protests, but a range of anti-vax, far right, white supremacist and fascist groups have begun to take credit. Some of these fascist groups have been involved in protests against trans rights, and openly intend to intimidate and harass Jewish people.
The far right is on the rise worldwide, from Donald Trump in the US to the anti-migrant Reform UK party and fascist parties in Germany, France and elsewhere. But this year鈥檚 federal election saw Peter Dutton鈥檚 brand of Trumpism overwhelmingly rejected here. We need to come together to make it clear that far right anti-migrant politics are not welcome in Sydney, and that anti-racists far outnumber the far right.
Join our counter-protest to reject their racism and division and say no to the far right.