Tens Of Thousands Of People Have Turned Up Around Australia For The March 4 Justice Protests
A huge turn out.
Tens of thousands of women and allies have gathered around Australia for the March 4 Justice protests.
Thousands gathered outside Sydney’s Town Hall, monitored closely by a strong police presence, demanding change from within our government and in all workplaces across the country.
Speakers to front the chanting crowd included Greens MP Jenny Leong and Dhanya Mani.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Liberal Party have faced mounting criticism after himself and the Minister for Women, Marise Payne both declined to attend the March 4 Justice event in Canberra.
Scott Morrison told organiser Janine Hendry, “I’ll meet them privately in my office and I’ll listen carefully to what they’re coming to say.” Defending his absence, the Prime Minister said, “I haven’t made a habit of going to any marches when they’ve come to Canberra because as Prime Minister, when you’re in Canberra it’s a very busy day.”
Brittany Higgins, the former Liberal Advisor who made explosive rape allegations against a senior staffer, that allegedly took place in Parliament House in 2019, addressed the tens of thousands that attended the Canberra March 4 Justice.
“There is a confronting sense of banality about sexual violence in our community. I was raped inside Parliament House by a colleague and for so long it felt like the people around me only cared because of where it happened and what it might men for them. It was so confusing because these people were my idols. I dedicated my life to them,” Higgins said to the crowd.
“My story was on the front page for the sole reason that it is a painful reminder to women that if it can happen in Parliament House, it can truly happen anywhere. This isn’t a political problem; this is a human problem.” Higgins said
“We’ve all learned over the past few weeks just how common gendered violence is in this country. It’s time our leaders on both sides of politics stop avoiding the subject and side stepping accountability, it’s time we actually address the problem.”
Brittany concluded her speech, clearly very emotional stating, “I decided to resign and tell my story because it was the only thing I that felt I could do to say I didn’t co-sign this behaviour.”
Addressing the crowd of thousand in Sydney, Greens MP Jenny Leong said, “I want to acknowledge that while I might be a member of the Greens, that there are toxic masculinity problems in every political party in this country.”
Leong thanked everybody from every different political party for attending to show their support, going on to say, “Some of them took a little longer to be convinced to be here but I’m told they are here. And all power to them for being here today!”
Leong concluded her passionate speech by SCREAMING to the crowds of people.
“And finally, I say this, on behalf of us all. A message to Canberra. A message to the rape apologists. A message to the Attorney General. We say GET OUT OF YOUR JOBS because it’s time to stand aside. We say enough is enough Christian Porter. Enough is enough Scott Morrison. All of them that are in there, slut shaming, that are victim blaming, we say no more.”
Finishing with a real mic drop moment, the Greens MP, shouted, “Fuck you, fuck ya rules, we’re writing new rules!”