The Amnesty Northcote local action group celebrated World Human Rights Day on 10 December in Melbourne style with arts, music and great food. The evening featured works on human rights issues by poets, rappers and songwriters.
Jane Hunt, former CEO of Women Fitted for Work, was one of the judges in the performance competition on the night. She said:
“As someone living in Northcote, Melbourne, I know that locals here really care about human rights. These issues might seem far away from us, but it is something we do care about and there is a desire to make a positive difference.”
Jane gave a moving human rights speech on the night, and attendees signed petitions and drafted letters seeking to have Fomusoh Ivo Feh and Ilham Tohti released from prison.
The talented poet and actor Leo Taylor won first prize in the performance competition. Leo is 74 years of age and has been a professional actor since 1969 working in Australian and European television. His winning entry was a rap entitled “Something’s Goin On” about the unjust death of a young Indigenous man:
SOMETHIN’S GOIN ON
Johnny’s got no rich relations, Johnny is a poor man’s son
Johnny’s luck is on vacation,
run Johnny run Johnny run Johnny run
who’s gonna bail Johnny outta gaol, what’s he done to deserve it
who’s gonna bail sweet Johnny outta gaol,
he’s earned his time now let him serve it
and it’s one law for the rich, another for the poor
if you happen to be black you don’t matter any more
there’s somethin goin on but you mustn’t call it war
better hide the baby while they’re breakin down the door
run Johnny run Johnny run Johnny run
run Johnny run Johnny run my son
who’s gonna save Johnny from the grave, what’s he done to deserve it
who’s gonna save sweet Johnny from the grave,
he’s earned his time now let him serve it
and it’s one law for the rich, another for the poor
if you happen to be black well I hope you’re keeping score
there’s somethin goin on but you mustn’t call it war
people talking justice hey you’ve heard it all before
run Johnny run Johnny run Johnny run
run Johnny run Johnny run my son
now Johnny boy is dead, there’s a bullet in his head
what’s he done to deserve it
sweet Johnny boy is dead, there’s a bullet in his head
he’s earned his time and now he’s served it
and it’s one law for the rich another for the poor
if you happen to be black can you take it anymore
there’s somethin goin on but you mustn’t call it war
and the winner is the man who is quickest on the draw
run Johnny run Johnny run Johnny run
run Johnny run Johnny run my son
Johnny’s got no rich relations, Johnny is a poor man’s son
Johnny’s luck is on vacation
run Johnny run Johnny run Johnny run……
© Leo Taylor
Leo said that the inspiration for the sung poem was David Gundy, a young Indigenous man shot dead by NSW police in 1989. Leo said:
“David’s story is essentially the same as the one in the poem – it’s about the mentality that resulted in his death. I write songs and poems… often concerning what I see as social injustice.”
Gurmeet Kaur, a former Afghan refugee from London, took 2nd prize with her poem titled “Refugee Crisis” about the refugee experience. Celine Yap of folk duo Littlefoot fame won 3rd prize for her song about a Tamil refugee. Yap is a passionate campaigner for the rights of refugees hosts a radio program for asylum seekers.
The judges had a difficult time choosing the prize winners as there were so many talented performers sharing important human rights stories.
The event was also a great opportunity to build the Northcote group’s local support base. The local action group in Northcote is relatively new, and are actively looking for new volunteers for lots of fun awareness raising events in 2017. The 2017 group calendar is already full with ideas for cheese and wine nights, an art human rights show and a bike ride or walk from Northcote high street to Edinburgh gardens to end violence against women – so if you are reading this and thinking “I am ready to stand up and do something for human rights” and live in the area, come join us in Northcote.
With thanks,
Tina Pigliardo and Eleanor Bonikowski
Co-convenors – Amnesty Northcote Local Action Group
Email us at aianorthcote@gmail.com
Who are the Northcote Local Action Group?
We are the primary representatives of Amnesty International in our local community. We stand up for Human Rights. The purpose of Amnesty is to protect individuals wherever justice or freedom is denied. We promote the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
We like to get involved locally to raise awareness for national campaigns through events such as performance evenings (music, poetry, art and film) and talks by representatives in the human rights community, lobbying MPs, and involvement in human rights petitions. Performance art in whatever form is a great medium for people to come together and better understand current human rights issues and also a fun way to take action and stand up for human rights. The Universal Declaration of human rights looks after us all no matter who we are or where we live. Everyone has these rights – our rights are part of what makes us human and no one should take them away from us.
