More than 200 people expressed their rejection of the athlete’s detention conditions in a Melbourne immigration center.
Dozens of anti-vaccine protesters joined vehement supporters of tennis player Novak Djokovic in a protest to express their rejection of the athlete’s detention conditions at a Melbourne immigration center.
As some 200 protesters gathered outside, the world’s No. 1 men’s tennis player spent his third day at Melbourne’s former Park Hotel, which is now holding about 32 people under Australia’s strict immigration policy.
On Wednesday night, Djokovic got a tough welcome at Melbourne airport. His lawyers say border control agents held him for eight hours before canceling his visa and sending him to the facility.
Detainees are not allowed to leave the building, and no one other than staff is allowed in or out.
The five-story center gained notoriety last year when a fire forced immigrants to evacuate, and maggots were reportedly found in the food.
But the nine-time Australian Open champion’s pleas to be transferred to another facility – and to be able to practice for the tournament while appealing the visa decision – went unheard, his lawyers say.
“Can you imagine what the mother is going through?” Said a protester, Raymond Stankovic, 47, at the door of the building. “He knows that he needs a strict diet and that the food they give him would not be given to your dog. There are probably cockroaches and other things, ”he added.
Situation of Djokovic versus that of the refugees
However, an immigrant rights activist lamented the lack of attention paid to refugees compared to the intense media interest in Djokovic. “To be honest, I am a little upset that Djokovic is here and that no attention is being paid to the refugee situation,” said Asher Preston, 34.
“Compared to what Djokovic has to face for a couple of days, what refugees go through for years is absolutely appalling,” he added.
The rainy day began by gathering only a dozen activists for the rights of immigrants and refugees, and admirers of the 34-year-old Serb. But in the afternoon they were joined by dozens of people protesting the obligation to be vaccinated against covid-19, many of them from another demonstration in another part of the city.
They waved flags and brandished banners that read “No more confinement, vaccinated or not vaccinated”; “Get up now or kneel forever”; “Get out! Don’t settle ”. Families with children also participated.
“Hang on Novak. We are with you, ”63-year-old Lisa Pavicevic shouted. “Djokovic is a good example. He could have taken a first class flight back to Serbia but he is fighting for his convictions, ”he stressed.
At the rally against vaccination in another part of the city there were signs of support for the tennis champion. “I don’t want to see my grandchildren vaccinated,” exclaimed Margaret Beacham, a 67-year-old former elementary teacher.
“Novak is positioning itself and it is a global opportunity for something to be said about the vaccination situation and how ridiculous it is,” he stressed. (D)
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