The Refugee Action Coalition presents - An Evening of Music to Support Refugee Rights and End Mandatory Detention with THE HERD + WATUSSI

Supported by MOHSEN SOLTANI & EMBER + DOG TRUMPET + ROSiE.

May 6th, 2012 marks 20 years of mandatory detention in Australia, a policy which has allowed for the incarceration of asylum seekers for up to 5 years, the development of the Pacific Solution, offshore processing, the classification of those seeking refuge as illegal, the Malaysian refugee swap, the 2010 election slogan ‘Stop the Boats’, unthinkable levels of self-harm, and six suicides since September 2010.

The Building Bridges Festival aims to both acknowledge the issues faced by asylum seekers both currently and over the last 20 years and recognise the dedication of those who have worked to improve the rights of refugees.