2016-12-07
On Sunday, in such explosive political times, it was a real pleasure and privilege to attend, with my Greens colleague Greg Barber and David Southwick, the member for Caulfield in the other place, a multicultural picnic in Caulfield organised by the Jewish community to celebrate diversity and social cohesion.
This event was organised in direct response to the proposed visit by One Nation senators Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts, who were due to visit Melbourne to publicly discuss the merits of stopping Muslim immigration to Australia. The common theme that ran through the speeches delivered by a politically and ideologically diverse line-up of speakers was the rejection of all forms of hate and intolerance. Each speaker showed steadfast solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters at this time, when they are being targeted just as other minority groups have been targeted throughout history, particularly the Jewish community itself.
Organisations that were in attendance and that supported the action included Hashomer Hatzair, Habonim Dror, Hineni Melbourne, the Jewish Labour Bund and SKIF, Shira Hadasha and the Australian Jewish Democratic Society. I commend Bracha Rafael and Jordy Silverstein for organising such an important and powerful show of unity against the divisive actions of some members of the community.