Ervin: like returning to the deep south of the '60s
Tuesday 8 July, 1997 (6:51pm AEST)
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American black activist, Lorenzo Ervin, has compared Queensland with
America's deep south in the 1960s, after being detained in a Brisbane jail
this afternoon.

The former Black Panther is facing deportation after immigration officials
cancelled his visa on the grounds that his visit is not in the national
interest.

Mr Ervin's solicitor, Terry Fisher, is lodging an appeal in the Federal
Court in a bid to delay the deportation.

Mr Fisher said all legal avenues will be pursued in the attempt to keep Mr
Ervin in Australia.

He said he fears the activist may be forced out of Australia in the middle
of the night.

Meanwhile, Mr Ervin has blamed Federal Independent MP, Pauline Hanson, for
his current situation. 

He spoke to ABC Radio News shortly before his visa was cancelled and he was
taken into custody. 

Mr Ervin said his impending deportation is a threat to civil liberties in
Australia, because he is being expelled after pressure by Miss Hanson.

The move by the Immigration Department shows she has "an inordinate amount
of political power and is a person to be feared", he said.

But Acting Immigration Minister, Amanda Vanstone, said the department erred
in allowing the convicted plane hijacker into Australia, and he will be
removed as soon as possible.

"I've concluded that Mr Ervin is not a man of good character," Senator
Vanstone said.

"It's important that Australia's immigration laws are seen by the community
to be in good order, and when someone comes in of a bad character,
regrettably, who wasn't stopped on the way in, then we should take steps to
remove them."