Hundreds attend rally against racism

ORGANISERS behind a rally denouncing racism last month said it had been a success.

The event, they said, had been held in response to a notable increase in racist actions and discrimination.

At least 150 people attended the Say No to Racism rally on Sunday 29 March, including members from the city’s Muslim community.

Those who attended gathered at the corner of Sturt and Dawson streets and marched towards Bridge Mall.

Ben Nunquam from the Ballaarat Anti-Racism Collective (BARC) said that they hoped to organise more events in the future.

“We’ve demonstrated that Ballarat people care about the issue of racism and want to do anti-racist work,” he said.

Mr Nunquam said the rally was held without any issues.

Those gathered marched down Sturt Street along the median strip.

“We had marshals stationed around the perimeter just to make sure that we could observe people coming in and out and ensure people were not stepping on the road or anything like that,” he said.

“We did have one vehicle yell racist things out their window at the crowd, but the crowd reacted and shouted them down.”

About 10 speakers addressed the crowd on topics and experiences related to racism.

BARC consists of members from Victorian Socialists Ballarat, Ballaarat and District Greens, Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council, Free Palestine Ballarat and Extinction Rebellion.

“We were hoping the main thing BARC was trying to do, is trying to do, continues to try to do, is establish a bit of a unified front between different migrant communities who are already somewhat organised,” Mr Nunquam said.

He said that would allow for cross-group discussion and organisation for further action against racism.

“Part of that is also making sure we’re able to inform groups, migrant groups and ethnic communities of any racism that we notice,” he said.

A police spokesperson said there were no incidents of note that they were aware of in relation to the rally.