Hundreds in red at community walk for asylum seekers, Launceston

Several hundred people walked in red as part of the two day Community walk for Asylum seekers in Launceston over the weekend.

Organised by Launceston community group Safe Asylum, the aim of the walk was to raise awareness of the United Nations Conventions and the current asylum seeker policies.

“On Saturday, several hundred community members joined the fantastic community walk around the Launceston city centre, with singers, poets and musicians entertaining the crowds”, says Ms Bel St Clair, Safe Asylum member.

More than two hundred children at Trevallyn and Riverside Primary School were entertained on the first day of the walk with stories and songs. The walkers also met with the Deputy Mayor and Mayor of West Tamar and Launceston City Council respectively, which are both Refugee Welcome Councils.

Fellow Safe Asylum volunteer Sue McKinnon says ” I was delighted to be among community members of all ages, from very young to seniors, who share a compassion for those who are vulnerable and displaced. The walk was positive, fun and educational, highlighting that Australia can well afford to be generous and I hope we influenced our fellow Tasmanians.”

To coincide with International Refugee Week, Safe Asylum will host a free book reading with Marc Isaacs, the author of ‘The Undesirables Inside Nauru’ on Monday 16th June at 12 noon at the Launceston Library.

Safe Asylum is a community group open to all Tasmanians who wish to see fair treatment for people seeking asylum in Australia, in particular those who arrive in Australia by boat. For more information go to safeasylum.wordpress.com or the SafeAsylum/Facebook
Kim Blechynden