Multiple Brisbane fountains vandalised as activists push for refugee freedom
Numerous Brisbane landmarks including water features have turned blood red for the second time in a month, with the people behind it explaining why they’ve done it.
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Brazen activists yesterday dyed several fountains in Brisbane red for the second time in as many months, as the group continues to protest the detention of over 100 refugees currently held in an inner city hotel.
Fountains across various locations in Brisbane, including numerous water features at the University of Queensland, yesterday morning ran red, “stained with … blood.”
Refugee Solidarity Meanjin (Brisbane) early on Tuesday posted numerous pictures to their Facebook account, showing the red fountains and vandalised pavements.
“Fountains across Meanjin (so-called Brisbane) are today stained with the blood of those killed and tortured by the racist detention program of the illegitimate Australian government,” the activist group wrote.
At least two fountains at St Lucia’s University of Queensland were dyed red and spray painted with the words “no human is illegal,” and “free the KP 120” (Free the Kangaroo Point 120 refugees), while a fountain outside the Roma Street Fire Station was also dyed red and vandalised with graffiti that read “free them.”
Other fountains at inner city Eagle Street Pier and one in Queen Street Mall were also turned red.
This is the second time water features in Brisbane have been vandalised in this way, after a water feature from another incident at Brisbane’s Riverside complex ran red in mid August.
On Tuesday, Refugee Solidarity Meanjin wrote that the group of about 120 refugees, currently detained in a Kangaroo Point Hotel, are being forced to eat food that violates their religious beliefs.
“They’re missing birthdays, meals with their friends and hugs with their children.
“The 120 people currently held in the Kangaroo Point prison are subject to unhygienic conditions, brutal treatment by guards and are forced to eat food that violates their religious beliefs.”
The detainment of the group in Kangaroo Point has been widely protested over the last few months.
The refugees came into Australia under Medevac laws for medical treatment.
Some have spent up to seven years in offshore detention facilities.
“Every single one of these people deserves the ability to live freely in our communities, rejoin their families and begin the process of healing from the trauma that our government has so shamefully imposed on them,” wrote Refugee Solidarity Meanjin.
“The fight must be taken from the rooms of the Kangaroo Point Hotel to the streets of Meanjin.
“We demand their freedom. Nothing less.”
The Queensland Police Service was made aware of at least one incident from the fountain vandalisation.
A Brisbane City Council spokesperson yesterday said the BCC had been made aware of vandalism at two council-owned fountains- McCormick Place and another at and Queen Street Mall.
Council immediately began cleaning up the damage.
“Damaging public property and defacing our city is not an appropriate way to send a political message,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“It is intentionally destructive and the cost to clean it up comes at the expense of ratepayers.
“Through upgraded CCTV camera technology and a partnership with the Queensland Police Service, we continue to monitor graffiti hotspots and catch offenders. Council has officially reported today’s vandalism to Queensland Police.”
The spokesperson said they had also been made aware of damage to privately owned fountains at the University of Queensland and Eagle Street Pier.
A UQ spokesperson said “UQ respects the right for people to express their views, but asks that they do so in a way that does not cause damage to property.”