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| Let Them Stay: protesters gather around Australia to prevent return of asylum seekers to Nauru – live | Let Them Stay: protesters gather around Australia to prevent return of asylum seekers to Nauru – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.18am GMT | |
| 04:18 | |
| My colleague Ben Doherty has written up some of the findings of the latest Australian Human Rights Commission report into the impact of detention on children’s wellbeing – and it makes for grim reading: | |
| A seven-year-old girl attempted suicide by cutting her face and chest with razor blades, children have jumped from buildings in attempts to kill themselves, and a two-year-old boy on Nauru played with cockroaches because “he has no other toys”, a report from the Australian Human Rights Commission says. | |
| A series of interviews conducted by paediatricians with asylum seekers inside Wickham Point and Christmas Island detention centres paints a bleak picture of mental trauma suffered by children in detention, and an overwhelming fear of being returned to Nauru. | |
| She has no friends. She cries all the time and says I want to go from here. She has cut herself with a razor on her chin, face, chest. She eats poorly, has daily headache and tummy pain and poor weight gain. Every night she wakes up and screams that someone is coming to take her back to Nauru. (Mother of girl, aged 7) | |
| Two of her friends jumped off the building and got broken hips and legs. They were sent to the community. She is talking about doing the same thing. She has been seen (by a counsellor in Darwin) and mental health here but says ‘talking to them doesn’t change anything for me.’ She has no medication, no psychiatrist. (Mother of girl, aged 15) | |
| When interviewed independently the girl reported: “I am at the end of the line. I’m really negative. I’m at the end. I feel maybe I should kill myself to end it all.” (Girl, aged 15) | |
| My child was playing with cockroaches – he had no other toys. (Father of boy, aged 2) | |
| Read more here. | |
| • In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here | |
| 4.00am GMT | |
| 04:00 | |
| Drawings by some of the children in Australia’s immigration detention centres include tearful self-portraits and depict longing for absent parents and pleas for help. | |
| Dr Karen Zwi, a paediatrician who has spoken out on the children’s behalf despite running the risk of jail time, says: “These kids feel to me like they’ve been through a mincing machine – they’ve had one traumatic event after another. I sometimes feel they are broken into little bits and it’s really hard to put the pieces back together again.” | |
| 3.53am GMT | |
| 03:53 | |
| Turnbull side-steps question of deportation in question time | |
| Shalailah Medhora | |
| Greens MP Adam Bandt has asked Malcolm Turnbull in question time to confirm that none of the 267 asylum seekers currently awaiting deportation will be sent back to Nauru.The prime minister side-stepped the question, instead accusing the Greens of painting themselves as having the monopoly on empathy and morality.“One child in detention is one child too many,” Turnbull said. “Every single one of us is anguished by the prospect, by the reality, of children in detention.” | |
| 3.51am GMT | |
| 03:51 | |
| Latest summary | |
| #LetThemStay Sydney rally in front of Department of Immigration and Border Protection: #refugees are welcome here! pic.twitter.com/kELF7c0CuM | |
| 3.16am GMT | 3.16am GMT |
| 03:16 | 03:16 |
| My colleague Paul Karp spoke to registered nurse Ingrid Potgieter and Labor for Refugees member Jenny Haines at the Sydney protest. | My colleague Paul Karp spoke to registered nurse Ingrid Potgieter and Labor for Refugees member Jenny Haines at the Sydney protest. |
| Registered nurse Ingrid Potgieter (L) and Labor for Refugees member Jenny Haines (R) at #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/1DI1mj8D7b | Registered nurse Ingrid Potgieter (L) and Labor for Refugees member Jenny Haines (R) at #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/1DI1mj8D7b |
| Ingrid: It’s important to stand up for what’s right. People think they can’t do anything but there is strength in numbers. My family came from South Africa to New Zealand so I have an affinity for less fortunate people fleeing difficult things. | Ingrid: It’s important to stand up for what’s right. People think they can’t do anything but there is strength in numbers. My family came from South Africa to New Zealand so I have an affinity for less fortunate people fleeing difficult things. |
| Jenny: I came because the high court has made a legal decision but there is a moral decision still to be made to close the camps. We can’t keep persecuting people like this, sending back vulnerable children to detention. | Jenny: I came because the high court has made a legal decision but there is a moral decision still to be made to close the camps. We can’t keep persecuting people like this, sending back vulnerable children to detention. |
| We need to keep the pressure on Turnbull. He has expressed sympathy in the past. I know he’s hidebound to the right faction but he should tell them to go jump. | We need to keep the pressure on Turnbull. He has expressed sympathy in the past. I know he’s hidebound to the right faction but he should tell them to go jump. |
| Ingrid: The opposition are also complicit. | Ingrid: The opposition are also complicit. |
| Jenny: Yes, the ALP federal caucus majority need to separate themselves from the Liberals and return to a Labor policy of fairness for all. | Jenny: Yes, the ALP federal caucus majority need to separate themselves from the Liberals and return to a Labor policy of fairness for all. |
| 3.05am GMT | 3.05am GMT |
| 03:05 | 03:05 |
| More than 100 people took part in the rally in the Blue Mountains this afternoon, a Twitter correspondent tells me, despite it being a “cold and rainy day”. The protest began at 12.30pm outside Leura Mall. | More than 100 people took part in the rally in the Blue Mountains this afternoon, a Twitter correspondent tells me, despite it being a “cold and rainy day”. The protest began at 12.30pm outside Leura Mall. |
| Over 100 #BlueMountains residents rally calling on the Aust Govt to #LetThemStay despite the HCA decision pic.twitter.com/FDqlJvIkrd | Over 100 #BlueMountains residents rally calling on the Aust Govt to #LetThemStay despite the HCA decision pic.twitter.com/FDqlJvIkrd |
| #BlueMountains residents rally in #Leura outraged that the Aust Govt could send refugees back to Nauru #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/eFKgrAfwX2 | #BlueMountains residents rally in #Leura outraged that the Aust Govt could send refugees back to Nauru #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/eFKgrAfwX2 |
| 2.57am GMT | 2.57am GMT |
| 02:57 | 02:57 |
| Peter Dutton: we won't drag people from churches | Peter Dutton: we won't drag people from churches |
| Immigration Minister Peter Dutton insists the federal government won’t be dragging asylum seekers out of churches to cart them back to Nauru, AAP reports. | Immigration Minister Peter Dutton insists the federal government won’t be dragging asylum seekers out of churches to cart them back to Nauru, AAP reports. |
| Up to 10 Anglican churches around Australia are offering sanctuary to the people at risk of being returned to the Pacific island nation in the wake of a failed High Court challenge. | Up to 10 Anglican churches around Australia are offering sanctuary to the people at risk of being returned to the Pacific island nation in the wake of a failed High Court challenge. |
| The offer is being led by the Anglican Dean of Brisbane Peter Catt, who has declared St John’s Anglican Cathedral a sanctuary for those who’ve suffered trauma and risk abuse if returned to Nauru. | The offer is being led by the Anglican Dean of Brisbane Peter Catt, who has declared St John’s Anglican Cathedral a sanctuary for those who’ve suffered trauma and risk abuse if returned to Nauru. |
| Asked about the prospect of people being dragged out of churches Dutton told Sky News: “No we’re not doing that.” | Asked about the prospect of people being dragged out of churches Dutton told Sky News: “No we’re not doing that.” |
| Instead their cases will be individually considered on medical advice. | Instead their cases will be individually considered on medical advice. |
| Dutton said the bulk of the group were people who were accompanying ill family members. | Dutton said the bulk of the group were people who were accompanying ill family members. |
| Once medical assistance was completed the government would be looking to send people back to Nauru or to their country of origin with financial assistance. | Once medical assistance was completed the government would be looking to send people back to Nauru or to their country of origin with financial assistance. |
| Dutton reiterated his intention not to put any child in harm’s way. | Dutton reiterated his intention not to put any child in harm’s way. |
| “We have to be compassionate on one hand but we have to be realistic about the threat from people smugglers. | “We have to be compassionate on one hand but we have to be realistic about the threat from people smugglers. |
| “We’re acting in the best interests not only for these children but children that would follow them.” | “We’re acting in the best interests not only for these children but children that would follow them.” |
| Sanctuary is a religious concept similar to asylum and dates back to the Old Testament. | Sanctuary is a religious concept similar to asylum and dates back to the Old Testament. |
| Churches have traditionally been considered places of refuge for people seeking protection. | Churches have traditionally been considered places of refuge for people seeking protection. |
| The legality of sanctuary has never been tested under Australian law. | The legality of sanctuary has never been tested under Australian law. |
| Australian Anglican churches offering sanctuary to asylum seekers | Australian Anglican churches offering sanctuary to asylum seekers |
| 2.52am GMT | 2.52am GMT |
| 02:52 | 02:52 |
| #LetThemStay #Sydney is outraged! pic.twitter.com/zQSFaRmJfs | #LetThemStay #Sydney is outraged! pic.twitter.com/zQSFaRmJfs |
| #Sanctuary #refugees #LetThemStay #auspol pic.twitter.com/0RD0NegcXp | #Sanctuary #refugees #LetThemStay #auspol pic.twitter.com/0RD0NegcXp |
| The crowd in Sydney is starting to disperse, though there are apparently plans for a vigil on Monday. | The crowd in Sydney is starting to disperse, though there are apparently plans for a vigil on Monday. |
| From the Refugee Rights Action Network of Western Australia, here’s that list of protests across Australia planned for the coming days – if you know of anymore, feel free to let me know on Twitter at @mlle_elle. | From the Refugee Rights Action Network of Western Australia, here’s that list of protests across Australia planned for the coming days – if you know of anymore, feel free to let me know on Twitter at @mlle_elle. |
| Nation wide protests calling loud and clear #LetThemStay #endoffshoreprocessing #closeNauru #closeManus pic.twitter.com/amK25POGOm | Nation wide protests calling loud and clear #LetThemStay #endoffshoreprocessing #closeNauru #closeManus pic.twitter.com/amK25POGOm |
| 2.41am GMT | 2.41am GMT |
| 02:41 | 02:41 |
| Duc Tong is the Christian Church minister of a Vietnamese congregation in Chester Hill. My colleague Paul Karp spoke to him at the protest outside the Department of Immigration offices. | Duc Tong is the Christian Church minister of a Vietnamese congregation in Chester Hill. My colleague Paul Karp spoke to him at the protest outside the Department of Immigration offices. |
| Church minister Duc Tong came to Oz as a refugee in 1978 and is sad to see openness to asylum seekers reversed pic.twitter.com/15fnfUjg5L | Church minister Duc Tong came to Oz as a refugee in 1978 and is sad to see openness to asylum seekers reversed pic.twitter.com/15fnfUjg5L |
| I am a refugee. I arrived in 1978. Australia was very generous under Malcolm Fraser, he opened the door very wide to accept Vietnamese and South-East Asian refugees. We believed Australia was very generous, compassionate and kind because it took so many people after WWII. | I am a refugee. I arrived in 1978. Australia was very generous under Malcolm Fraser, he opened the door very wide to accept Vietnamese and South-East Asian refugees. We believed Australia was very generous, compassionate and kind because it took so many people after WWII. |
| Now the policy has changed and it is very sad to see things go that way. Labor and Liberal follow the policy of closing the borders and stopping boat people. They started to treat refugees like criminals and put them in places like concentration camps. | Now the policy has changed and it is very sad to see things go that way. Labor and Liberal follow the policy of closing the borders and stopping boat people. They started to treat refugees like criminals and put them in places like concentration camps. |
| 2.39am GMT | 2.39am GMT |
| 02:39 | 02:39 |
| Much of the discussion of the 267 asylum seekers who risk being sent back to Nauru has focused on the children among them: 37 babies, many of whom were born in Australia, and one five-year-old. | Much of the discussion of the 267 asylum seekers who risk being sent back to Nauru has focused on the children among them: 37 babies, many of whom were born in Australia, and one five-year-old. |
| Related: These are the 37 babies being sent to live in the camp that John built | First Dog on the Moon | Related: These are the 37 babies being sent to live in the camp that John built | First Dog on the Moon |
| The advocacy group GetUp has shared some of their stories in the introduction to their “let them stay” petition (names have been changed). | The advocacy group GetUp has shared some of their stories in the introduction to their “let them stay” petition (names have been changed). |
| Arman, Nousha, and baby Jasmine | Arman, Nousha, and baby Jasmine |
| “My wife painted beautiful artworks, our home in Iran was covered in them. She also loved to play the sitar, but we had to leave this all behind in Iran. It feels like our family is melting away. | “My wife painted beautiful artworks, our home in Iran was covered in them. She also loved to play the sitar, but we had to leave this all behind in Iran. It feels like our family is melting away. |
| “We have a little baby daughter. I’m so proud of her, but I’m constantly worrying about what the future holds for her. My wife is sad and crying all the time, and I think my baby feels her sadness. | “We have a little baby daughter. I’m so proud of her, but I’m constantly worrying about what the future holds for her. My wife is sad and crying all the time, and I think my baby feels her sadness. |
| “I just want a good life for my family. I want to be able to take care of my wife and make her feel better.” | “I just want a good life for my family. I want to be able to take care of my wife and make her feel better.” |
| Navid, Parvaneh, and baby Darien | Navid, Parvaneh, and baby Darien |
| “It was love at first sight for my wife and I, she’s always been there to support me. Life was good in Iran, but this changed when I converted to Christianity. I was arrested and imprisoned for seven days because of my faith. | “It was love at first sight for my wife and I, she’s always been there to support me. Life was good in Iran, but this changed when I converted to Christianity. I was arrested and imprisoned for seven days because of my faith. |
| “It took us five days to reach Australia by boat from Indonesia. I was terrified, but it was better than the certain death that awaits me in Iran. Now my wife is so depressed, I just want her and my son to be free. I could bear being in detention if I knew they were free.” | “It took us five days to reach Australia by boat from Indonesia. I was terrified, but it was better than the certain death that awaits me in Iran. Now my wife is so depressed, I just want her and my son to be free. I could bear being in detention if I knew they were free.” |
| Matthew, Naomi, and baby Samuel | Matthew, Naomi, and baby Samuel |
| “Thirteen years ago I met the love of my life, he was a bodybuilder at the time and I was studying. We started out as friends, but then friendship grew into love, and seven years later we were engaged. We had a huge wedding with 700 of our friends and family. | “Thirteen years ago I met the love of my life, he was a bodybuilder at the time and I was studying. We started out as friends, but then friendship grew into love, and seven years later we were engaged. We had a huge wedding with 700 of our friends and family. |
| Life was good, we had a home that was full of love and laughter. One day my husband brought home a sick puppy he found. The puppy cried all night, so I slept next to it. My husband ended up taking the puppy to the vet, but sadly it died. He didn’t have the heart to tell me at first. Now I want a dog so my son will have someone to play with and protect him, dogs are good like that.” | Life was good, we had a home that was full of love and laughter. One day my husband brought home a sick puppy he found. The puppy cried all night, so I slept next to it. My husband ended up taking the puppy to the vet, but sadly it died. He didn’t have the heart to tell me at first. Now I want a dog so my son will have someone to play with and protect him, dogs are good like that.” |
| The below from Tom Clarke, director of communications at the Human Rights Law Centre: | The below from Tom Clarke, director of communications at the Human Rights Law Centre: |
| When Doctors faces jail time for speaking out & churches need to offer kids sanctuary, you know your country is in trouble #LetThemStay | When Doctors faces jail time for speaking out & churches need to offer kids sanctuary, you know your country is in trouble #LetThemStay |
| 2.27am GMT | 2.27am GMT |
| 02:27 | 02:27 |
| Mohsen Soltani, an Iranian refugee and former Villawood detainee, spent four years in detention. “I have witnessed how the kids are going to be affected. They desperately need hope. But the bloody parties use them for their own propaganda. It’s a tragedy for Australia, it’s totally shameful. ... | Mohsen Soltani, an Iranian refugee and former Villawood detainee, spent four years in detention. “I have witnessed how the kids are going to be affected. They desperately need hope. But the bloody parties use them for their own propaganda. It’s a tragedy for Australia, it’s totally shameful. ... |
| “The important thing is we’re not going to give up,” he says. | “The important thing is we’re not going to give up,” he says. |
| #LetThemStay Sydney. Mohsen Soltani, Iranian refugee: what Australia is doing to #refugees is totally shameful pic.twitter.com/vqOfLOvC7O | #LetThemStay Sydney. Mohsen Soltani, Iranian refugee: what Australia is doing to #refugees is totally shameful pic.twitter.com/vqOfLOvC7O |
| The crowd has marched around the square at Lee Street to the Department of Immigration’s offices – the entrance barred off by a police line. The MC has told the hundreds of gathered protesters that when the media, unions, churches and members of the community say to let asylum seekers stay in Australia, “Malcolm Turnbull has to hear”. | The crowd has marched around the square at Lee Street to the Department of Immigration’s offices – the entrance barred off by a police line. The MC has told the hundreds of gathered protesters that when the media, unions, churches and members of the community say to let asylum seekers stay in Australia, “Malcolm Turnbull has to hear”. |
| March reaches entrance of Immigration Dept, police line telling people not to pass #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/dsYPJa3iD4 | March reaches entrance of Immigration Dept, police line telling people not to pass #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/dsYPJa3iD4 |
| "Close the camps" the chant in front of the police line pic.twitter.com/wocyMC4ulG | "Close the camps" the chant in front of the police line pic.twitter.com/wocyMC4ulG |
| 2.08am GMT | 2.08am GMT |
| 02:08 | 02:08 |
| Ken Canning of the Indigenous Social Justice Association has told protesters gathered in Sydney that it’s “cowardice to pick on the most vulnerable”. | Ken Canning of the Indigenous Social Justice Association has told protesters gathered in Sydney that it’s “cowardice to pick on the most vulnerable”. |
| Indigenous campaigner Ken calls detention "murder by government policy" says it's racist in same way as colonialism pic.twitter.com/410OgMCzmF | Indigenous campaigner Ken calls detention "murder by government policy" says it's racist in same way as colonialism pic.twitter.com/410OgMCzmF |
| And now it’s the turn of Julia Mackin from Women Supporting Women in Detention (see the helpful clarification from Paul in his picture caption). “I don’t believe people would send refugees back to their rapists if they knew they had been raped and bashed,” she says – the movement for refugees’ rights is large and won’t be silenced. | And now it’s the turn of Julia Mackin from Women Supporting Women in Detention (see the helpful clarification from Paul in his picture caption). “I don’t believe people would send refugees back to their rapists if they knew they had been raped and bashed,” she says – the movement for refugees’ rights is large and won’t be silenced. |
| Julia Mackin from Women Supporting Women in Detention (the women, not detention) pic.twitter.com/6bUqCGRgfv | Julia Mackin from Women Supporting Women in Detention (the women, not detention) pic.twitter.com/6bUqCGRgfv |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.09am GMT | at 2.09am GMT |
| 2.03am GMT | 2.03am GMT |
| 02:03 | 02:03 |
| Now Gaby Judd of Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children is addressing the Sydney crowd. | Now Gaby Judd of Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children is addressing the Sydney crowd. |
| Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children speaker says Dutton is sending kids into harm's way #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/aREuINvlGZ | Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children speaker says Dutton is sending kids into harm's way #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/aREuINvlGZ |
| Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children was founded in Melbourne in late 2014, after a group of friends met to share their concerns about asylum seeker children being held in offshore detention centres. | Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children was founded in Melbourne in late 2014, after a group of friends met to share their concerns about asylum seeker children being held in offshore detention centres. |
| Most of the group’s members have been educators in early childhood development in Victorian universities. All are grandmothers, and describe themselves as “deeply distressed” by reports – such as the one Professor Gillian Triggs at the Australian Human Rights Commission released today – that show the effects of being held in detention on children’s emotional, social and physical development. | Most of the group’s members have been educators in early childhood development in Victorian universities. All are grandmothers, and describe themselves as “deeply distressed” by reports – such as the one Professor Gillian Triggs at the Australian Human Rights Commission released today – that show the effects of being held in detention on children’s emotional, social and physical development. |
| Grandmothers ADRC are planning a trip to Canberra in March to lobby the federal government in person to “free the children and their families from detention”. | Grandmothers ADRC are planning a trip to Canberra in March to lobby the federal government in person to “free the children and their families from detention”. |
| Sign: "please Turnbull it could be your grandson Jack" #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/ytrutNpRRp | Sign: "please Turnbull it could be your grandson Jack" #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/ytrutNpRRp |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.03am GMT | at 2.03am GMT |
| 1.55am GMT | 1.55am GMT |
| 01:55 | 01:55 |
| My colleague Paul Karp has spoken to Denise Wilton, former mayor of Mosman, at the Sydney demonstration. She’s pictured here with fellow protestors Marty Morrison and Terry Cutcliffe. | My colleague Paul Karp has spoken to Denise Wilton, former mayor of Mosman, at the Sydney demonstration. She’s pictured here with fellow protestors Marty Morrison and Terry Cutcliffe. |
| Campaigner Marty Morrison (L) Terry Cutcliffe (C) former Mosman Mayor Denise Wilton (R) at #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/BUlnODeRmV | Campaigner Marty Morrison (L) Terry Cutcliffe (C) former Mosman Mayor Denise Wilton (R) at #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/BUlnODeRmV |
| “I’m here because I am appalled that people escaping persecution are being incarcerated in places like Nauru and Manus that are ill equipped to deal w them. I feel a deep shame at the treatment of refugees.” | “I’m here because I am appalled that people escaping persecution are being incarcerated in places like Nauru and Manus that are ill equipped to deal w them. I feel a deep shame at the treatment of refugees.” |
| 1.52am GMT | 1.52am GMT |
| 01:52 | 01:52 |
| GetUp’s campaigns director Sally Rugg, at the protest on Lee St, tweeted that she called the Prime Minister’s office so that Malcolm Turnbull “could hear the chants of ‘let them stay’ from the rally down the phone”. | GetUp’s campaigns director Sally Rugg, at the protest on Lee St, tweeted that she called the Prime Minister’s office so that Malcolm Turnbull “could hear the chants of ‘let them stay’ from the rally down the phone”. |
| I just called Malcolm Turnbull's office so they could hear the chants of #LetThemStay from the rally down the phone pic.twitter.com/PZxrRPnlTZ | I just called Malcolm Turnbull's office so they could hear the chants of #LetThemStay from the rally down the phone pic.twitter.com/PZxrRPnlTZ |
| NSW Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi is shown speaking in the shot above. The Refugee Action Coalition reports that she says Turnbull must rule out sending asylum seekers back to “offshore jails”. | NSW Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi is shown speaking in the shot above. The Refugee Action Coalition reports that she says Turnbull must rule out sending asylum seekers back to “offshore jails”. |
| 1.47am GMT | 1.47am GMT |
| 01:47 | 01:47 |
| More scenes from the Sydney protest. | More scenes from the Sydney protest. |
| Ian Rintoul from @rac_sydney speaking to the crowd at the rally to #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/D5WrlHNRyZ | Ian Rintoul from @rac_sydney speaking to the crowd at the rally to #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/D5WrlHNRyZ |
| 'Shame Turnbull Shame!' Chants the crowd. Rightly so. #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/dKhFYyYRjN | 'Shame Turnbull Shame!' Chants the crowd. Rightly so. #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/dKhFYyYRjN |
| SIGN: 'Difficult issues never justify cruelty' #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/qJtjjBTuEa | SIGN: 'Difficult issues never justify cruelty' #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/qJtjjBTuEa |
| A good turnout at the Sydney snap action. Chants of 'Close Nauru!' #LetThemStay | A good turnout at the Sydney snap action. Chants of 'Close Nauru!' #LetThemStay |
| Kids don't belong in detention. Amen to that. They belong in schools, in parks & playgrounds, thriving. #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/Z4nj5zW8n4 | Kids don't belong in detention. Amen to that. They belong in schools, in parks & playgrounds, thriving. #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/Z4nj5zW8n4 |
| #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/SYZEmYltEZ | #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/SYZEmYltEZ |
| Large crowd of protesters rallying outside Dept of Immigration Sydney #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/LEApDd5ZBF | Large crowd of protesters rallying outside Dept of Immigration Sydney #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/LEApDd5ZBF |
| #LetThemStay Close Nauru pic.twitter.com/jwgW6ijsW0 | #LetThemStay Close Nauru pic.twitter.com/jwgW6ijsW0 |
| Mehreen Faruqi addressing the #letthemstay crowd pic.twitter.com/Ld5qkMraEl | Mehreen Faruqi addressing the #letthemstay crowd pic.twitter.com/Ld5qkMraEl |
| 1.38am GMT | 1.38am GMT |
| 01:38 | 01:38 |
| First protests kick off in Sydney | First protests kick off in Sydney |
| #LetThemStay Sydney rally about to start at Dept of Immigration, Lee St pic.twitter.com/gLBSonahWA | #LetThemStay Sydney rally about to start at Dept of Immigration, Lee St pic.twitter.com/gLBSonahWA |
| My colleague Paul Karp is outside the Department of Immigration on Lee St in central Sydney, where “a few hundred” protesters have gathered already. Their numbers are growing quite quickly, he tells me, and chants of “Let the children stay” and “let them stay” have begun. | My colleague Paul Karp is outside the Department of Immigration on Lee St in central Sydney, where “a few hundred” protesters have gathered already. Their numbers are growing quite quickly, he tells me, and chants of “Let the children stay” and “let them stay” have begun. |
| Hundreds now at Syd #letthemstay, chanting "refugees are welcome" and "shame Turnbull shame" @mlle_elle pic.twitter.com/9eCT1aId29 | Hundreds now at Syd #letthemstay, chanting "refugees are welcome" and "shame Turnbull shame" @mlle_elle pic.twitter.com/9eCT1aId29 |
| Paul’s spoken to a couple of protestors about what’s brought them out into the drizzly afternoon. | Paul’s spoken to a couple of protestors about what’s brought them out into the drizzly afternoon. |
| Carolyn Thornley, Uniting Church minister. At#Letthemstay because she doesn't believe kids & fam should be detained pic.twitter.com/czsQnDHmDJ | Carolyn Thornley, Uniting Church minister. At#Letthemstay because she doesn't believe kids & fam should be detained pic.twitter.com/czsQnDHmDJ |
| I don’t believe children and families should be in detention, nor should there be any offshore detention. The conditions at Nauru and Manus are not at all transparent. We need a whole change in how we treat asylum seekers, like Germany where people are flown in. Instead we have closed doors. | I don’t believe children and families should be in detention, nor should there be any offshore detention. The conditions at Nauru and Manus are not at all transparent. We need a whole change in how we treat asylum seekers, like Germany where people are flown in. Instead we have closed doors. |
| Tim Heffernan works at @MSF including in South Sudan. Here protesting High Court decision #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/c33xRRsuyn | Tim Heffernan works at @MSF including in South Sudan. Here protesting High Court decision #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/c33xRRsuyn |
| I decided to come after yesterday’s high court decision. I’ve been involved in passive protest such as sharing on social media, but felt that was preaching to people who already had the same stance, so came down to have my voice heard and be seen. | I decided to come after yesterday’s high court decision. I’ve been involved in passive protest such as sharing on social media, but felt that was preaching to people who already had the same stance, so came down to have my voice heard and be seen. |
| The audacity of the government and high court to declare offshore detention legal, despite breaches of international human rights law, is despicable. I don’t think the majority of people believe it is right. | The audacity of the government and high court to declare offshore detention legal, despite breaches of international human rights law, is despicable. I don’t think the majority of people believe it is right. |
| In purple are Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/bFLBae3Z1d | In purple are Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/bFLBae3Z1d |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.40am GMT | at 1.40am GMT |
| 1.30am GMT | 1.30am GMT |
| 01:30 | 01:30 |
| Thanks for all of your photos and comments, you can continue to tweet them to my colleague Elle Hunt, who is about to take over this blog again from Sydney where the first of the demonstrations are about to kick off. | Thanks for all of your photos and comments, you can continue to tweet them to my colleague Elle Hunt, who is about to take over this blog again from Sydney where the first of the demonstrations are about to kick off. |
| I’ll leave you with a story from the Armidale Express, about a snap protest being planned for the regional NSW town. | I’ll leave you with a story from the Armidale Express, about a snap protest being planned for the regional NSW town. |
| Melissa Davey signing off for now. | Melissa Davey signing off for now. |
| 1.19am GMT | 1.19am GMT |
| 01:19 | 01:19 |
| At 12.30pm the first of the demonstrations, in Sydney and the Blue Mountains, will begin. | At 12.30pm the first of the demonstrations, in Sydney and the Blue Mountains, will begin. |
| People starting to gather for 12:30 #LetthemStay rally in Sydney outside Immigration Dept @MelissaLDavey pic.twitter.com/VELE7gbfcD | People starting to gather for 12:30 #LetthemStay rally in Sydney outside Immigration Dept @MelissaLDavey pic.twitter.com/VELE7gbfcD |
| .#LetThemStayTheir future, our futureThese children may grow up & their memories, stories and actions will be..... pic.twitter.com/aXXIPVKmvh | .#LetThemStayTheir future, our futureThese children may grow up & their memories, stories and actions will be..... pic.twitter.com/aXXIPVKmvh |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.22am GMT | at 1.22am GMT |
| 1.16am GMT | 1.16am GMT |
| 01:16 | 01:16 |
| According to the Refugee Rights Action Network, among the families detained in Perth directly affected by the High Court decision are a Syrian family with a young baby, and several married couples; | According to the Refugee Rights Action Network, among the families detained in Perth directly affected by the High Court decision are a Syrian family with a young baby, and several married couples; |
| All were brought to Australia from detention on Nauru in order to receive medical treatment and are currently being held in detention centres here in Perth. | All were brought to Australia from detention on Nauru in order to receive medical treatment and are currently being held in detention centres here in Perth. |
| Supporters of these people’s right to remain in Australia will be holding a vigil outside one of the facilities where they remain detained awaiting direct news of their fate. | Supporters of these people’s right to remain in Australia will be holding a vigil outside one of the facilities where they remain detained awaiting direct news of their fate. |
| Refugee supporters are in contact with these families and can confirm they are distressed and frightened over the fate that awaits them but grateful for the show of public support evident from the response to the government announcement of its intentions. | Refugee supporters are in contact with these families and can confirm they are distressed and frightened over the fate that awaits them but grateful for the show of public support evident from the response to the government announcement of its intentions. |
| We are calling upon the Turnbull government and Mr Dutton to recognise the vulnerability of these families and refrain from returning them to the damaging conditions on Nauru. We further call upon the government to release them into the community and process their refugee claims here in Australia. | We are calling upon the Turnbull government and Mr Dutton to recognise the vulnerability of these families and refrain from returning them to the damaging conditions on Nauru. We further call upon the government to release them into the community and process their refugee claims here in Australia. |
| Refugee Rights Action Network representatives and supporters will gather outside Perth Immigration Residential Housing from 6:30 pm. | Refugee Rights Action Network representatives and supporters will gather outside Perth Immigration Residential Housing from 6:30 pm. |
| Perth let's show #Dutton and #Turnbull that we want them to #LetThemStay and that they MUST #closeNauru pic.twitter.com/N1CVJEOXip | Perth let's show #Dutton and #Turnbull that we want them to #LetThemStay and that they MUST #closeNauru pic.twitter.com/N1CVJEOXip |
| 1.01am GMT | 1.01am GMT |
| 01:01 | 01:01 |
| People are using the hashtag #LetThemStay on Twitter to share their reaction to the High Court decision, and it has been trending for the past few hours. | People are using the hashtag #LetThemStay on Twitter to share their reaction to the High Court decision, and it has been trending for the past few hours. |
| As well as the various protests occurring around the country, people have begun gathering at churches with placards. As we mentioned earlier, churches and cathedrals in Australia are offering sanctuary to asylum seekers who have suffered trauma and abuse to prevent their return to Nauru. Story by Paul Farrell here. | As well as the various protests occurring around the country, people have begun gathering at churches with placards. As we mentioned earlier, churches and cathedrals in Australia are offering sanctuary to asylum seekers who have suffered trauma and abuse to prevent their return to Nauru. Story by Paul Farrell here. |
| We will put our building and our bodies on the line to protect asylum seekers. #Sanctuary #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/roX5Vi2dPh | We will put our building and our bodies on the line to protect asylum seekers. #Sanctuary #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/roX5Vi2dPh |
| Moral law cannot be ignored #Australia #LetThemStay #HumanRights #refugeeswelcome pic.twitter.com/AWgDLhuDLt | Moral law cannot be ignored #Australia #LetThemStay #HumanRights #refugeeswelcome pic.twitter.com/AWgDLhuDLt |
| Meanwhile, here’s some more detail on the Newcastle protest courtesy of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. The Centre is tweeting details of all the protests around the country, so follow them for updates about action that might be happening near you. | Meanwhile, here’s some more detail on the Newcastle protest courtesy of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. The Centre is tweeting details of all the protests around the country, so follow them for updates about action that might be happening near you. |
| #Newcastle peepsPROTEST 5.30pm Today Wheeler PlaceSIGN PETITION https://t.co/YSGDs1Bktg#LetThemStay https://t.co/9ekTrqoyhj | #Newcastle peepsPROTEST 5.30pm Today Wheeler PlaceSIGN PETITION https://t.co/YSGDs1Bktg#LetThemStay https://t.co/9ekTrqoyhj |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.06am GMT | at 1.06am GMT |