By Graham Carter
I have just got back from Canberra where I attended the rally. The media have reacted completely inappropriately to the events on the day. I witnessed much which conflicts with what was reported:
1. The rally was not violent. You see more violence in the average mosh pit, and certainly at numerous demos. One of the best things about the rally was that it was not distracted into conflict against the police. The crowd was very angry and upset with the government, but not violent — a large and important distinction. I can only assume that the 30 (40? 60? 80? depending on which report you read) injured police had their egos bruised!
2. Four people were arrested, two for assault, two for trespass — not 45 as some media claimed. Forty-five people may have been detained without arrest (i.e. illegally), but virtually all were released without charge. I was detained with both protesters who were eventually charged with assault. One told me he had not done anything and was randomly grabbed, the other had his nose broken by a cop after decking a copper for punching a girl in the face — he wasn't sorry.
3. Despite union leadership and media claims to the contrary, there was no distinction between the "official" rally and the "riot" — the crowd spread from the stage all the way up to the doors.
4. The most wonderful thing about the rally was the symbolism of a huge crowd literally ripping open the doors to parliament. They are big doors, but one by one they were pried opened by the massive crowd until only a band of 200 police stood between us and our "representatives". Any implements taken off the crowd were definitely only used to open doors.
I urge everyone who attended the rally to contact the media to give an alternative view of what went on. Enough people were there to ensure that the myth that was quickly created can be unstitched.
This government must not be allowed to hide behind the illusory violence to deny the profound level of anger, frustration and anger felt by millions of Australians. If it takes the opening of the doors to parliament to get our message across, then that's what we have to do.
[Abridged from a letter currently circulating on the internet.]