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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/sep/07/refugeeswelcome-thousands-gather-across-australia-over-migration-crisis
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| #LightTheDark: thousands gather across Australia over migration crisis | #LightTheDark: thousands gather across Australia over migration crisis |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people are reported to have gathered in major cities across the country on Monday evening to urge action on the humanitarian crisis arising from the conflict in Syria. | |
| The call went out on social media under the hashtags #refugeeswelcome and #LightTheDark, with gatherings planned in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart and Perth. | |
| Related: Tony Abbott hints at taking fight to Isis in Syria amid pressure to help country's refugees | Related: Tony Abbott hints at taking fight to Isis in Syria amid pressure to help country's refugees |
| Many people lit candles in Sydney’s Hyde Park and Melbourne’s Treasury Gardens as they stood together in the growing gloom, echoing the scenes in February 2014 when vigils were held across the country for Reza Barati, the Iranian man killed during violent scenes at the Manus Island detention centre. | Many people lit candles in Sydney’s Hyde Park and Melbourne’s Treasury Gardens as they stood together in the growing gloom, echoing the scenes in February 2014 when vigils were held across the country for Reza Barati, the Iranian man killed during violent scenes at the Manus Island detention centre. |
| Sydney says #welcome! #LightTheDark pic.twitter.com/UrTNEcTlfO | |
| A huge crowd braved a cold, drizzly night in the Treasury Gardens in memory of Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi, who drowned during his family’s flight from Syria. | |
| Wow Melbourne. Get down to Treasury Gardens now - this is huge #LightTheDark #refugeeswelcome pic.twitter.com/aTLlj6rvW2 | Wow Melbourne. Get down to Treasury Gardens now - this is huge #LightTheDark #refugeeswelcome pic.twitter.com/aTLlj6rvW2 |
| The image of Aylan’s body, washed on to a Turkish beach following his families failed bid to flee Syria by boat, has become a symbol of the humanitarian crisis. | The image of Aylan’s body, washed on to a Turkish beach following his families failed bid to flee Syria by boat, has become a symbol of the humanitarian crisis. |
| The large crowd circled a tiny marquee and backed along Spring Street and Treasury Place listening to speakers including two resettled refugees and refugee advocate Pamela Curr. Ms Curr led a minute’s silence for Aylan as rain tumbled. | The large crowd circled a tiny marquee and backed along Spring Street and Treasury Place listening to speakers including two resettled refugees and refugee advocate Pamela Curr. Ms Curr led a minute’s silence for Aylan as rain tumbled. |
| She urged the federal government to review its border protection policies and welcome refugees to Australia. | She urged the federal government to review its border protection policies and welcome refugees to Australia. |
| RT @AmeliaAmnestyOz: 1-2-3> thousands at #lighthedark say #RefugeesWelcome, literally. pic.twitter.com/5BUNt4JaYq | RT @AmeliaAmnestyOz: 1-2-3> thousands at #lighthedark say #RefugeesWelcome, literally. pic.twitter.com/5BUNt4JaYq |
| In Darwin, several hundred people gathered at Nightcliff Jetty to listen to speeches by advocates, former Save the Children workers and refugees. | In Darwin, several hundred people gathered at Nightcliff Jetty to listen to speeches by advocates, former Save the Children workers and refugees. |
| Several speakers urged local residents not to ignore what was going on in their own backyard with asylum seekers – some suffering severe health problems – held at the nearby Wickham Point detention centre. | |
| Local Catholic bishop Eugene Hurley told the crowd he remained affected by people he met at South Australia’s Woomera detention centre. | |
| Hurley said he was told by one detainee: “If freedom is all you’ve known then you’ve never known freedom.” | |
| #LightTheDark Darwin pic.twitter.com/NYxpBpgKnz | #LightTheDark Darwin pic.twitter.com/NYxpBpgKnz |
| On Sunday, the prime minister, Tony Abbott, said Australia would consider taking more Syrian and Iraqi refugees as part of the humanitarian visa program, while ruling out an increase in the overall number. | On Sunday, the prime minister, Tony Abbott, said Australia would consider taking more Syrian and Iraqi refugees as part of the humanitarian visa program, while ruling out an increase in the overall number. |
| The opposition Labor party wants the government to offer a one-off boost of 10,000 permanent refugee places to deal with the humanitarian crisis from the ongoing Syrian conflict. The visas would include family reunion and community-sponsored humanitarian visas. | The opposition Labor party wants the government to offer a one-off boost of 10,000 permanent refugee places to deal with the humanitarian crisis from the ongoing Syrian conflict. The visas would include family reunion and community-sponsored humanitarian visas. |
| Related: Refugees are Australia's most entrepreneurial migrants, says research | Related: Refugees are Australia's most entrepreneurial migrants, says research |
| #Melbourne you're doing us proud as you #LightTheDark to say #refugeeswelcome. Yes they are! #AylanKurdi #Syria pic.twitter.com/3NmfSUaC3b | #Melbourne you're doing us proud as you #LightTheDark to say #refugeeswelcome. Yes they are! #AylanKurdi #Syria pic.twitter.com/3NmfSUaC3b |
| The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said on Monday: “We are proposing a significant increase because this is a significant crisis.” | The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said on Monday: “We are proposing a significant increase because this is a significant crisis.” |
| vigil for refugees in Hyde Park Sydney is growing! #refugeeswelcome pic.twitter.com/kwhuwD0xqc | vigil for refugees in Hyde Park Sydney is growing! #refugeeswelcome pic.twitter.com/kwhuwD0xqc |
| @TonyAbbottMHR please resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees #LightTheDark #RefugeesWelcome @amnestyOz pic.twitter.com/OD2ZT6b3Qu | @TonyAbbottMHR please resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees #LightTheDark #RefugeesWelcome @amnestyOz pic.twitter.com/OD2ZT6b3Qu |
| Shalailah Medhora and Australian Associated Press contributed to this report | Shalailah Medhora and Australian Associated Press contributed to this report |