SUNSHINE FOR PEOPLE IN THE PARK
Sunshines over Ballina as 500 gather for People In The Park following the March In August
Over 500 people converged on Ballina yesterday for March In August and the launch of People In The Park.
“We took a gamble moving the march down to Ballina, but it was incredible to see hundreds of people travelling as far as Lismore and Murwillumbah to support grassroots democracy” said co-organiser Timothy Pembroke.
“While the media might say this is all about Tony Abbott - to many of us it’s about breaking through political apathy, to empower people to be active and vocal.
Each person who attended today should feel a deep sense of pride.”
Following the march, the inaugural People In The Park kicked off as musicians and leading community figures such as author Margo Kingston, Comedian S Sorrensen and Ballina Mayor David Wright spoke of the importance of such days in bringing people together at a grassroots level.
“The concept for People In The Park was to build upon the march movement by creating an environment for voters sitting on all sides of the fence. To have local politicians, the Mayor of Ballina, musicians, journalists and the general public all on the same team, actively and willingly engaging in democracy was special to see.”
Organisers are yet to comment on the future of the nationwide March Australia movement which saw 40,000 Australians participate in street marches on Sunday. “What we’ve done is lay a strong foundation with People In The Park. There is never certainty over the future of movements like the March in March, so we saw it vital to build a concept to keep grassroots democracy strong and healthy in this region.” Organisers are discussing plans to hold People In The Park again early in 2015.
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