Amercian black activist spends another night in Brisbane jail
Thursday 10 July, 1997 (6:59pm AEST)


The court hearing

A series of protests have been held at offices of the
Immigration Department, in cities around Australia
today, in support of U-S black activist, Lorenzo
Ervin, who faces deportation.

The High Court in Brisbane is considering an
application to allow Mr Ervin to be released from a
Brisbane jail, with the Amercian black activist to
spend another night in a Brisbane jail awaiting his
fate.

The High Court has adjourned the case to allow
counsel for Acting Immigration Minister, Amanda
Vanstone, more time to prepare its case.

The issue is before the High Court because it is the
only court in Australia with the jurisdiction to rule on
such cases.

Mr Ervin is in the Arthur Gorrie Jail; he was arrested
by immigration officials on Tuesday, and faces
deportation.

The background 

Mr Ervin was convicted of hijacking a plane in the
United States in 1969, but was granted Presidential
Clemency in 1995 [actually, 1988. -Greg] by George Bush.

The Federal Immigration Department subsequently
judged Mr Irvin not to be of proper character to
remain in the country, and that he misrepresented
himself on his visa application.

His trip to Australia is being sponsored by the group;
Angry People.

The Protests

In Sydney, about 20 people protested against Mr
Ervin's threatened deportation outside the
Immigration offices at The Rocks.

Organiser Ian Rintoul, of the Campaign Against
Racism, says the question of the activist's past
conviction and reported clemency is irrelevant in the
face of his anti-racism campaigning. 

He says Mr Ervin is an anti-racist campaigner,
spreading a message internationally about the damage
racism can do.

In Melbourne, about 30 people gathered outside the
office of the Immigration Department.

Protest spokesman, Sasha Shtargot, says the
Department of Immigration's decision is ridiculous.

Ms Shtargot says the incident puts Australia in a very
poor light, given that Mr Ervin has toured 20
countries before without incident.

In Brisbane, where the bail application was being
heard, about 100 protestors gathered at the Court.

Police formed a human barricade at the front
entrance of the court building to stop the group from
entering.

And in Darwin, in Australia's top end, a small group
gathered at the Immigration Department office, to
show support for Mr Ervin.

The group, under the banner of the Coalition for the
Right to Freedom of Speech, presented a list of
concerns to the department.