At Parliament House, the group of about 45 people stood in the centre of the foyer and began quietly singing a song of grieving and concern as they held hands and formed a spiralling circle. The song had five verses, which began with these words:
Were you there when the boats were turned away?
Were you there when the lives were lost at sea?
Were you there when the nation turned its face?
Were you there when the kids were locked away?, and
We will pray until love will find a way.
After the singing, the people sat in a circle on the floor and those who weren’t clergy took off their coats to reveal T-shirts with the message “Kids don’t belong in detention”. They then spent some time in silent prayer.
By this time, the security police had come into the foyer. They courteously discussed the fact that demonstrations were not permitted there and advised all present that, if they refused to leave when asked to do so, they would be “arrested” and led out by the police. Most people refused to move and were therefore taken out by the police. There was considerable media attention as this happened.
Once out the front of the foyer, the group repeated its singing and praying. While it was doing so, many people came to look and listen, including a large number of groups of school students who were visiting the Parliament. The group made sure that their teachers were told what was going on so that the students would understand. One particular group, many of whom were wearing hijabs, were particularly moved because they were refugees themselves. They also appreciated being told that those present respected people of other faiths, including their own.
The “Love Makes a Way” group stayed for an hour and a half continuing its protest. Its members were determined to continue taking a stand against the lack of justice and compassion being exercised by the Federal Government. Given that the only people who really own this land are its Indigenous people and all the rest of us came and took the land without permission, it is not only unjust but hypocritical of us to turn other desperate people away.
