From burqas to bikinis and budgie smugglers: dress to express is just one theme of a rally in Byron Bay on Sunday that encourages the community to use its freedoms in the face of losing them.
‘While some will wear hijabs in solidarity with their Muslim sisters on the day, others are encouraged to be outrageous.,’ says event spokesperson Harsha Prabhu.
But there is a more serious side to the event, that rally organisers hope will strike a chord with the community.
‘The truth is, Tony Abbott’s divided Australia is beginning to resemble an Orwellian dystopia, where war is peace, democracy is mass surveillance, the rich are entitled to keep everyone poor, asylum is prison, climate does not change and freedom is being offloaded from a flight for doodling “Terrorismadeup”,’ Harsha says.
‘Our government is embarking on yet another war, ostensibly on the pretext of exporting democracy to the Middle East, via the gun, while simultaneously suppressing democracy at home, via draconian laws and blanket surveillance of the masses. All this in the name of fighting ‘terrorism’. Our rulers fail to understand that war is terrorism and war breeds more terrorism,’ he adds.
‘To foot the bill for his appointment with more fear and loathing in the Middle East and the military industrial complex that feeds off it, Abbott has savagely cut funding for vital social spending in areas like health, education, Aboriginal services, youth, the care of the elderly and placed in jeopardy the general wellbeing of the Australian people.’
In true Byron fashion, organisers are calling for ‘fun, frolic and mirth [to] be our response to hate and fear’.
As well as serious speakers on subjects including human rights, terror laws and refugee advocacy, the event will feature clowns, comedians, music, performance, comedy and poetry. There will be kids’ activities galore and the first ever “Terrorismadeup” award for best costume.
The Byron Freedom Rally will take place in Railway Park on Sunday from 11am. Organisers are urging everyone to come out and celebrate your freedoms while you still can.
The event is supported by the Australia Indonesia Arts Alliance, Colours of the World and Byron Harmony Team and is auspiced by Island Quarry.
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