Protest gets groups rocking
ORGANISERS of the Rock the Gate rally, march and concert on Saturday got the 3000-plus they wanted out against coal seam gas and to mark the start of a Lock the Gate Alliance national week of action against the industry.
They had come from all parts of the Northern Rivers and beyond to the Murwillumbah Showground in solidarity and song, in a show of people power which included another blocks-long march through the central business district of a Northern Rivers centre.
"Northern Rivers united we stand; protect our water, protect our land," chanted Jhabel Downie of Kyogle, who was one of many at Murwillumbah who marched against the industry at a 7000-strong Lismore event in May.
"The only way that we can get governments to address the issues properly is (through) people power," Lock the Gate Alliance president Drew Hutton said.
"What we are doing here today, what we are doing in the next week, what communities all over the eastern seaboard are doing at their blockades, is just saying to governments we are resisting."
People had been arrested for the cause, were prepared to go to jail and were "prepared to suffer in some cases" for the cause, he said.
But apart from a few exhausted organisers, there was little suffering on Saturday over the event which included a festival-quality entertainment line up of musicians and performers.
Rather, the event re-energised campaigners the likes of Diane Strohfeldt and Lee Bassett of Lismore.
Their confidence of success like that of many in the cause, had ebbed and flowed.
"The march has sent a clear message, and it certainly does negate the statements that (opposition to coal seam gas) is just a few hippie drop-outs and a few professional protesters," Ms Strohfeldt said.
"We don't know a thing about protesting."
Murwillumbah local Luke Robinson was another at Rock the Gate who marched in Lismore.
"You can see as time goes on more and more people become concerned about coal seam gas," he said as he scanned the crowd.
"Here today there's everyone from children to really elderly people using walking frames. There's musicians, farmers, families, a bit of everything and it shows the whole community has become involved."
