“The Pope is wrong, gay is great!”
That was the protest chant at a T-shirt rally held by the
NotoPope Coalition outside NSW State Parliament yesterday.
About ten police officers kept watch as a dozen protesters took part in the “annoying fashion parade” in Macquarie Street,
displaying T-shirts with slogans such as “Pope Go Homo” and “This T-shirt
is annoying”.
The group, made up of human rights groups, gay rights
activists and business people, was protesting new laws which allow police to
arrest anyone they believe is causing annoyance and inconvenience during the
World Youth Festival during July 15-20. Anyone in breach of the laws is liable
for a fine of up to $5,500.
“We’re here today to say that these annoyance laws are
appalling and we’re here to see what the Sydney community has brought out in terms
of annoying T-shirts to challenge these laws,” NotoPope spokesperson and gay
rights activist Rachel Evans told SX.
Evans said it was reassuring to see people actively take
part in the rally. She hopes it will build confidence for the group’s bigger
protest event planned for July 19.
 Fashions on Macquarie Street yesterday. Photos: Reg Domingo
Among those who took part was Colin Charlton, a T-shirt
maker for over 30 years.
“I believe the Pope is annoying,” Charlton told SX. “And if anything is annoying, it’s
the Iemma Government we have in New South Wales – they can’t get anything
right, causing all this hu-ha at the moment.”
Charlton, whose company is called Republic Print, said he
was not printing T-shirts to make a profit, but to make a stand against the
government.
“Freedom of speech is a right we have in Australia and it’s
being eroded away particularly by this disgusting Iemma Government,” he said.
The rally comes just days before a federal court hearing
challenging the laws this Friday, a legal action brought on by Evans and fellow
student activist Amber Pike.
It is understood Evans will be cross-examined by both government
and police lawyers.
Asked about her chances of success, Evans told SX: “We’re very confident that these
laws will be defied en masse. We think that they will be laughed at in court.”
The legal action has received the support of the NSW Council
of Civil Liberties.
The NotoPope rally will be held on Saturday, July 19, at
Taylor Square.
 |
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
