Where we stand
As many from our community come from migrant backgrounds and are all too familiar with histories of persecution and fleeing, the rights of refugees to live in safety is something we are passionate about. Australia has an abhorrent track record of treatment of asylum seekers, for which it has been internationally condemned. We demand a fair, just and compassionate response to refugees seeking asylum.
Over the coming months the AJDS is developing our approach to this campaign. In this meantime this page should be considered a skeleton of what we hope it will be. Please join our supporter mailing list to keep up to date on progress.
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“[They were returned to the trimotor plane]. The refugees then began to beat the sides of the plane and hammered at the windows, breaking one of them.”
Croydon Airport, England, 1939
latest updates in this campaign
AJDS Statement against fascism and Milo Yiannopoulos in Kensington
Around the world, and around this country, there is increasing support for far-right politics, fascism and neo-Nazism. At Milo Yiannopoulos’ talk on Monday night a group of around 40 far-right people, including some known neo-Nazis, gathered outside the talk to incite hatred and violence. As well as racist language and attacks on Muslims, a number […]
AJDS Statement on the ongoing persecution of Rohingya people
The Australian Jewish Democratic Society stands with Rohingya people and demands an end to crimes against humanity. Recent weeks have seen the wholesale slaughter of Rohingya men, women and children in the streets, villages, and backblocks of the Rhakine state, Myanmar. There have been innumerable reports of rapes, with entire villages burned to the ground. […]
The tradition of Palm Sunday rallies
By Yael Winikoff. Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, celebrates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. It has come to be traditionally viewed as a time to reflect on victory, joy and peace, and for these reasons has been a date that has been marked with marches and protests on such issues as war, nuclear disarmament and […]
Impressions from the anti-Trump rally, Melbourne February 3, 2017
By Larry Stillman. Hello all, I ran home like crazy to try to put in a report about the anti-Trump demo for those who are observant though as far as I can see, the sun is well and truly shining. Yes, there was a 1/2 hearted from Palestine to Mexico slogan attempt by the young […]
One Nation’s cancellation and a letter by Robin Rothfield
Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts’ planned Caulfield visit in November, 2016, which was organised by a far Right Jewish group, was cancelled due to a collaborative effort within the broad Jewish community. While the One Nation senators claimed it was the extremist Left that shut them down, as Michael Brull wrote in New Matilda, “It is […]
Raising money towards a camcorder for the AJDS: a fundraising drive
The AJDS often hosts unique events and gatherings, attended by a diverse crowd that gathers to talk in ways otherwise unavailable. We cherish these moments and always try to keep a record of each as best we can – notes, pictures, and recordings. For this reason, we call upon our members and supporters to dig deep […]
Why I spend my Friday nights in hell: visiting the Melbourne Immigration and Transit Accommodation centre (MITA)
By Sivan Barak. Every Friday night for the past 60 weeks I’ve driven out of the ‘ghetto’, over the river, just 32 km south, to the far away land of Broadmeadows. It’s a weekly participation in a macabre ritual, the antithesis to Melbourne’s dubious title, ‘most livable city’. During these visits I witness what I can only […]
‘A racist pig’: on embroiling children in the war on refugees
By Jordy Silverstein On March 25 2004 it was reported by the Hobart Mercury that “immigration minister Amanda Vanstone said yesterday she had received letters from primary school children calling her a racist pig.” Apparently, “she said she was not offended by the abusive letters but annoyed children had been influenced to write such things.” […]
Mum, did you steal any refugees? Sylvie Leber on the Baxter convergence, 2003
The Baxter Detention Centre in South Australia was used for the mandatory detention of asylum seekers between 2002-2007. In 2003 detainees protested and set fire to the facilities over the Easter Weekend protests. This happened again with worse results in 2005, but then Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said that acts of vandalism and self harm […]
