Thousands in Melbourne call for halt to Islamophobia, racism

Thousands in Melbourne call for halt to Islamophobia, racism

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Australia’s second-largest city of Melbourne to protest against rising sentiments Islamophobia and racism in the wake of the recent massacre of Muslim people in New Zealand

Protesters gathered at Victoria’s State Library on Saturday to express solidarity with the Muslim community following the Friday terrorist attacks at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch Rall organizer Jasmine Ali told Daily Mail Australia The Islamophobia and racist rhetoric of Australia’s Coalition government has contributed to an atmosphere where vile attacks like the Christchurch shooting become possible Secretary of Islamic Council of Victoria Mohammad Helmy who was among the participants in the rally said the hate rhetoric being shared in the public domain led to the attacks This kind of hate rhetoric it kills In a show of solidarity, a number of landmarks in Melbourne were lit up overnight in the New Zealand flag colors. The rally was one of many protests of its kind held across the globe ahead of next week’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination .New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has condemned the terrorist attack, saying she would change the country’s firearm laws.

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