If we’re all people, we’re all equal. That’s the message from non-profit group Welcome to Australia which is coordinating the national Walk Together march to strive for a fairer, more inclusive nation during this year’s Refugee Week.
National event coordinator and Welcome to Australia founder Brad Chilcott says, “Australia is a great multicultural nation in which the rhetoric of fear and prejudice is not only unwelcome, but damaging to harmony and community health.
“Walk Together is an opportunity to visibly express the Australia we believe is possible – one where prejudice is unpopular and where cruelty towards vulnerable people hurts at the polls.”
Walk Together calls for an Australia that recognises in its public debate, media conversation and legislation that ‘if we’re all people, we’re all equal’ – equally deserving of freedom, dignity, the opportunity to contribute and to belong.
Amnesty International will have stalls at each event for people to find out more about refugee rights and what they can do to help. The public will also have the opportunity to sign up to Amnesty’s new refugee pledge to remove children from detention.
“We’re happy to be involved in the Walk Together events because we will be standing alongside people from all over Australia who will take this opportunity to show how much they care about refugees and asylum seekers,” said Amnesty International’s Refugee Spokesperson Graeme McGregor.
“You wouldn’t know it listening to our politicians, but Australians don’t want children behind bars. They don’t want innocent people to be locked up for years. They want refugees to be given the support they need to start a new life of safety and dignity in Australia. Walk Together shows that we can make these hopes a reality.”
Walk Together will take place on 22 June in 15 cities around Australia including each capital city, Port Augusta, Newcastle, Toowoomba, Logan, Wollongong and on the Gold Coast. Details of all Walk Together events around the country can be found on the Welcome to Australia website.
Walk Together – Adelaide march
When: 1pm on Saturday June 22
Where: Meet on North Terrace in front of Parliament House and walking to Rundle Park (corner Rundle Street and East Terrace) at 1pm
What: After the march, remain for a Welcome Picnic, showcasing the best of the South Australian multicultural food, drinks, guest speakers, opportunities to engage and exciting entertainment. Bring friends, a picnic rug and settle in for an afternoon celebrating our diversity.
Walk Together – Port Augusta march
Where: Meeting at the Foreshore, Port Augusta.
When: 12.30pm on Saturday June 22
What: Meet at the Foreshore, then proceed to Walk Together across the old bridge and back. On return, there will be a BBQ and multicultural food, along with performances by local musicians, stories of diverse Australians and contributions by Port Augusta’s faith and cultural communities.
