RISE: Refugees, Survivors and eX-detainees the FIRST self-determined advocacy and welfare organisation in Australia run by Refugees for Refugees makes a public call for a boycott of “Australia Day”, for the eighth year in a row. Even before making our first public statement our organisation has never celebrated this day.
As eX-detainees, Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Australia, we acknowledge that the land we seek protection on is the land of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples whose sovereignty was never ceded. ‘Always was, always will be Aboriginal land’. RISE fully supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples sovereignty and self-determination and stands in solidarity with them every day in our commitment to fighting for justice on this land on their terms. RISE thanks the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia who have been supporting refugee self-determination and standing in solidarity with our community groups every day.
We eX-detainees, Asylum Seekers and Refugees from RISE condemn any group or individual who claims to be pro-refugee but celebrates “Australia Day” on the 26th of January 2020. Instead, RISE encourages all Refugees, eX-detainees, Asylum Seekers and allies to support First Nations peoples in their actions against “Australia Day” and their self determination.
The systemic abuse of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is a result of over 200 years of discrimination and continues to this day. The template is now being used against our own refugee communities who are coming on boats. It is impossible to dismantle refugee torture built within and outside detention without addressing the root cause of this ongoing criminal abuse of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
To quote RISE founder and eX-detainee, Ramesh Fernandez “As survivors of occupation, rape, torture and oppression we should not undermine the struggle for survival that other oppressed community groups face. We should respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their sovereignty. It is not a day to poster yourself on a billboard, dance, sing or wrap a flag around yourself that represents occupation, colonisation and genocide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia”.
RISE acknowledges the length of discrimination and ongoing systemic abuse that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia face and stand in solidarity with them every day. We believe that full sovereignty Freedom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is the first step and the RISE team will always support and work hand in hand with First Nations communities as much as we can.
Donate / Amplify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples-led movements and organisations
Black Rainbow Living http://www.blackrainbow.org.
Curtain the podcast https://curtainthepodcast.
Djirra https://djirra.org.au/
First Nations Telegraph http://www.
IndigenousX http://indigenousx.com.au/
Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance https://www.facebook.com/
Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy https://dwembassy.com/
Nationwide actions are being organised by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Activists. Refer to WAR (Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance) Facebook for updates : https://www.facebook.com/
The above list was given to us by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members who support/work with RISE. If you would like to add any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples-led organisations to this list please email admin@risrefugee.org
In Solidarity
RISE Team