Brisbane Black Lives Matter and anti-refugee detention activists work together and protest outside of Kangaroo Point Central Apartment Hotel where 120 refugees are being held.
The smell of cigarette smoke and the chants of “no racism no fear, refugees are welcome here, out by Christmas and shame on you” filled Walmsley street.
Protesters in Brisbane, were protesting about 120 refugees who have been detained by the Queensland Government in the Kangaroo Point Central Apartment Hotel. Protesters lined the walkway of Main Street, outside the apartment block at 2pm. They wrote messages of solidarity for the refugees on Walmsley street with chalk. One protester wrote in defiance of the Federal Government, “you would have detained my grandfather.”
The protest began with a speech by Indigenous and refugee advocate Sonya Coghill or otherwise known as Aunt Sonya. Her voice could be heard throughout the whole of Kangaroo Point, “JUSTICE FOR ALL, SHAME ON AUSTRALIA AND SHAME ON YOU, LOOK HOW YOU TREAT THESE PEOPLE,” she screamed.
“The Indigenous community are horrified about how you fellas have been treated, the State and Federal Government try and hide their dirt but this injustice needs to be brought to light,” Aunt Sonya said with passion.
After Aunt Sonya’s speech, Farhah Rahmati a refugee detained inside of Brisbane International Transit Accommodation spoke via telecommunications and praised protesters.
“We are proud of you and we love you, we are tired and sick. Why do they treat us like criminals? Even animals don’t get treated like this,” Farhad said in regards to the Federal Government’s treatment of the refugees inside of the apartment complex.
After he had spoken one of the protester yelled, “fuck me, he speaks better English than the majority of Australians.”
After Farhad had finished his speech, Sayif another refugee spoke, and explained that he was not able to see his son and just only wanted to give him a hug.
This infuriated protesters and they yelled “let him hug his son” over and over again as they slowly marched forwards to the hotel. As they arrived at the gates of the hotel, the protesters started banging on the gates and screamed at police and security of the hotel.
During the chants which were aimed at police, a off duty hotel security guard from Serco, stood by a female police officer. He yelled back at protesters, “leave her alone, she is just only doing her job.”
One protester yelled and pointed at every security guard of the hotel. “Do you have a soul? Do you have a soul and do you have a soul?” he yelled repeatedly. His questioning of their humanity was shortly answered by another protester who yelled, “give it a rest mate, they clearly don’t.”
The ruckus of the protesters was eventually calmed down by Greens MP Johnathan Sri who urged protesters to not give Queensland Police an excuse to use force. “Everyone needs to calm down and get your hands off your guns and tasers. This is on you Queensland police you have a choice to de-escalate or escalate the situation,” Johnathan said.
Not everyone at the protest was in agreement with the treatment of the security guards and the police. Sam Toms explained that he felt the protesters had treated the police badly. “There are so many factors at play, the cops are just doing their jobs they aren’t the issue here,” Sam said.
A Queensland Police Officer who asked to be off the record, when questioned if the Queensland Police expected this type of reaction from protesters said the protest hadn’t surprised the Queensland Police Force.
Police had explained that if any protesters were still on Walmsley street by 5pm they would be arrested.
When it came to 5pm the Queensland Police Force gathered at the end of Walmsley street and walked slowly and in formation like an army prepared for battle. The few protesters which defied the order to leave were pulled up and were escorted to the nearby footpath. At 8:47pm local MP Jonathan Sri was arrested by police and taken into a paddy wagon.
(Credit: UQ Senator Drew Pavlou)
The game of cat and mouse between protesters and police seems like it won’t end any time soon. The protesters have planned shifts and have pitched up tents outside of the hotel building. They have explained that they will not have any of the refugees inside of the building leave and be sent back to an offshore processing centre.