Gallery: Children head NZ’s ‘love not hate’ rally in central Auckland

Pacific Media Centre — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 08:01:27 +0000

Pacific Media Centre’s Del Abcede was on the ground for last Sunday’s “love not hate” rally with about 2000 people marching down Auckland’s Queen Street in solidarity with the victims and survivors of the Christchurch mosque terrorist attack earlier this month.

Scores of children were among the marchers with placards declaring “Stand up to Islamophobia”, “Peace, love”, “Denying racism is racism”, “Dismantle white supremacy” and “Migrants are welcome, fascists are not”.

Fifty worshippers were killed by a lone gunman with assault weapons in an attack on two mosques in Christchurch on March 15. New Zealand has now banned assault and semi-automatic weapons.

Love Aotearoa Hate Racism

1. “Stand up” school children at the “Love Aotearoa Hate Racism” (LAHR) rally in Auckland on Sunday. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

2. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

3. LAHR rally in Aucland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

4. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

5. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

6. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

7. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

8. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

9. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

10. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

11. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

12. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

13. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

14. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

15. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

16. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

17. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

18. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

19. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

20 LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

21. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

22. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

23. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

24. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

25. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

26. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

27. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

28. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

29. Michael Bain at the LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

30. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

31. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

32. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

33. LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

34. Del Abcede (left) and Ruth Coombes at the LAHR rally in Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Thousands take part in Auckland ‘love Aotearoa’ rally, reject terrorism

Pacific Media Centre — Sun, 24 Mar 2019 02:01:19 +0000

The Tino Rangatiratanga and New Zealand independence flags flying at the “Love Aotearoa Hate Racism” rally in Aotea Square, Auckland, today. Image: David Robie/PMC

Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk

Thousands of New Zealanders flocked to the “Love Aotearoa Hate Racism” rally at Aotea Square in central Auckland today in solidarity with the Muslim community in the wake of the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch just over a week ago.

The colourful and vibrant rally vowed to “maintain unity” and spokespeople said this was another example of the “real New Zealand”, a land of compassion and love.

#TheyAreUs

One speaker described the “nameless” terrorist, a white Australian who killed 50 Muslim worshippers at Friday prayers on March 15 and will appear in the High Court on April 5, as a “cockroach” who had failed to divide New Zealanders.

Speakers included Ibrar Sheikh, secretary of the Federation of Islamic Associations of NZ, Ian Rintoul from Refugee Action Coalition Sydney, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, Mike Treen from Global Peace and Justice Aotearoa, and Māori activist Joe Trinder, co-founder of the organisers, Love Aotearoa Hate Racism (LAHR).

“LAHR believes that, while the shooting at the mosques was the deed of one gunman, the attack is the tragic consequence of Aotearoa’s failure to address racism within its midst,” said Joe Carolan, co-founder of LAHR.

“In contrast to the picture of ‘a peaceful, harmonious, tolerant’ society painted over the past week, Aotearoa for too long has seen the scapegoating of migrants and refugees, with mainstream politicians blaming immigration for our housing and economic crisis.

-Partners-

“This has given confidence to fascist elements here and overseas, culminating in last week’s tragic and harrowing outcome.”

LAHR is a coalition of unions, community, and migrant groups, which was formed last July in response to attempts by the far right to peddle Islamophobic, anti-migrant, anti-refugee politics in New Zealand.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

LAHR – Evening Report

Gallery: Children head NZ’s ‘love not hate’ rally in central Auckland

Thousands take part in Auckland ‘love Aotearoa’ rally, reject terrorism