Tens of Thousands join Palm Sunday

In Sydney over 16,000 people rallied at Belmore Park where they listened to speeches by Dr. John Yu (Chancellor of UNSW), Sister Susan Connelly, Lydia Miller and former Whitlam Minister Tom Uren chaired by Lex Marinos.

They then silently marched to Victoria Park behind a banner held by Members of Parliament, Union Leaders and Religious leaders from the Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Christian faiths.

At Victoria Park the march joined with participants of the Walk Against Want to hear speeches from Labor Council Secretary John Robertson and former Senator Jo Valentine. Several bands followed the speeches with many participants taking advantage of the weather to stay and enjoy the festival which was chaired by Julie McCrossin.

Rallies where held in every capital city and many regional areas, over 30,000 people joined the march in Melbourne.

Links to several media reports are below:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/nsw/metnsw-24mar2002-14.htm

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/03/24/refugee.htm

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,4013436%255E421,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_1890000/1890728.stm

http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/auspac/03/24/aus.protests/index.html

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/03/24/1016843091173.html