Sydney's Inner West Council is set to convene a rally in support of multiculturalism and celebrating the successive waves of migration which helped build modern Australia.
The rally will be held on Sunday 18 October at Ashfield Park, in the heart of the community that was birthplace of multiculturalism.
Migrant and multicultural organisations, faith communities, sporting clubs and local citizens from all walks of life will be invited to gather in support of diversity and social cohesion.
The Inner West has long been at the forefront of Australia's multicultural story, and the rally will affirm the economic, cultural and social contributions that migrant communities have brought to our area and Australian society as a whole.
The event will be a positive and unifying response to the growing attacks on multiculturalism by reactionary elements.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said:
"Our Inner West community knows that multiculturalism works because we live it every day. Migrant communities have made the Inner West strong, vibrant and more successful.”
“The culture of mutual respect that we have built here in our neighbourhoods has spread across the nation and made Australia one of the world's great multi-ethnic democracies.
“Recent attempts by reactionary forces tear down multiculturalism have left many in our communities fearful. Many people are reporting that they are worried that their contributions of their families have made to Australia, built over generations, are being trampled on.
"The best response to this challenge is for Sydneysiders to come together, celebrate our diversity and show why multiculturalism works.
"At this event we will bring together the whole of our Inner West civic society in support of multiculturalism and to recommit ourselves to its defence.
Background: Italian and Greek post-war migration, Portuguese settlement in Petersham in the 1960s, Vietnamese refugees after the Vietnam War, and later Chinese and South Asian migration transforming Ashfield and surrounding suburbs. That tells the story of how the Inner West became a model for Australian multiculturalism.
Please note: Council will vote on the rally proposal motion at its 25 August meeting.
For media enquiries please contact Heath Gilmore, heath.gilmore@innerwest.nsw.gov.au