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Huge crowd for Sydney's anti-violence vigil

Mon 28 Jan 2008 In: International News View at Wayback

Almost 1,000 people attended the Reclaim the Right vigil at Sydney's Harmony Park on Saturday, to show their support for victims of homophobic violence and to demand more action from local police and government. Pink Australian flags, indigenous flags, and City of Sydney whistles were handed out, even as it looked like the crowd's numbers had far surpassed organisers' expectations. Men, women and their canine companions braved the high temperature and lack of shade in support of Craig Gee, Shane Brennen and all the other victims of homophobic violence. Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Shelley Dahl from Community Action Against Homophobia, Liberal Counsellor Shayne Mallard, and ACON president Adrian Lovney spoke to the crowd, along with performances by The Sydney Homotones, Shauna Jensen, and drag icon Courtney Act. The crowd collectively held hands high in the air to protest their right to do so in public without attracting violence. Following the vigil, approximately 400 people marched waving the pink Australian flags and blowing whistles to the applause of patrons at Oxford Street cafes and bars. "Illegal unplanned marches are always the best," one women commented as the crowd held up traffic on several small streets and periodically one lane of Oxford Street.    

Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff

First published: Monday, 28th January 2008 - 6:35pm

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