Arakan News Agency
Australia – MEMBERS of Bendigo’s Catholic community gathered at Rosalind Park on Friday night to rally for refugees.…
About 40 to 50 people with placards such as ‘toot if you give a hoot’, ‘it’s not illegal to seek asylum’ and ‘justice for refugees’ stood on the corner of High and View streets from 4pm to 5.30pm to spread their message to passing motorists.
Some of those attending came from Echuca and Nathalia to be there and joined students from St Killians and Catholic College Bendigo, among others.
Maria O’Donnell said the St Kilian’s Catholic Social Justice group had organised the rally in response to the plight of Rohingya people seeking asylum.
Ms O’Donnell, a Catholic College Bendigo teacher, said the Rohingya people were stateless and the Catholic community had an obligation to stand up for refugees.
“My whole faith is about seeking justice for all humanity. We’re one human family,” she said.
“I think some people saying, why are we standing up for Muslims. Because they’re human.
“We want Catholic parishes to get involved. I’m trying to push Catholics to stand up and have a voice.”
She said she was pleased to see Father Rom Hayes from St Killian’s and Father Paul Purcell had joined the rally.
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The rally also heard from Chris Cummins, a torture and trauma counsellor who spent five years on Christmas Island.
Ms Cummins spoke to the rally about the horrors Rohingya people she had spoke to had fled from, and the horrors many now faced having been refused asylum in several countries.
“They’re exiled to nowhere. No sanctuary is being granted anywhere,” he said.
She encouraged those at the rally to take courage that they could effect change.
“I believe that’s why everyone of you are here today. You’re compelled to seek justice,” she said.
Source : bendigoadvertiser
