For the past four years successive Australian governments have chosen to make people seeking safety suffer in offshore detention. The men, women and children abandoned in offshore detention are in immediate danger with nowhere safe to go.
So on July 19, Common Grace will join with hundreds of others to gather across the country at candlelit vigils, shining a light in the dark. We will stand with those who have suffered, mourn those who have lost their lives and demand everyone on Manus and Nauru be brought to safety.
Events are springing up all over the country, as people who care bring their creativity and talents together and organise local vigils to make sure those on Manus and Nauru know we will not abandon them.
So far there are vigils planned in every capital city:
- Sydney at Hyde Park North
- Melbourne at State Library of Victoria
- Brisbane at King George Square
- Perth at Northbridge Piazza
- Canberra at Garema Place
- Adelaide at Elder Park
- Hobart at Parliament House
- Darwin at Nightcliff Foreshore
There are also more regional vigils happening across the country:
- Newcastle at Newcastle City Hall
- Armidale at Central Park
- Armidale at University of New England
- Southern Highlands at Corbett Plaza
- Geelong at Wesley Church Hall
- Warrnambool at MP Dan Tehan's Office
- Wonthaggi at Wonthaggi Library
- Bendigo at Rosalind Park
- Gold Coast at Burleigh Heads
- Toowoomba at Queen's Park
Someone is even organising a vigil at the Australian Embassy in The Philippines.
Will you join us on July 19 at a vigil near you?