One year after the Tampa, about 2000 people assembled at the State Library in Melbourne to demand freedom for refugees locked up in camps in Australia and the Pacific Islands, an end to deportations, and full rights for the 8000+ refugees ‘dying a slow death on Temporary Protection Visas’ (RAC flyer). Here are some photos:

About half an hour later, towards dusk

Some of the many banners and a message of solidarity:

Spot the discrimination

RAC banner

Another visitor was the Refugee Bus from the
Embassy at Woomera

After speeches at the State Library the rally marched through Central Melbourne, ending at the Nike store in Bourke Street, scene of regular Friday night protests over several months last year. By this time it was too dark for this kind of photography, although it was noticed that the police had their video camera in action …