On 28 April members of No One Is Illegal - Vancouver/Coast Salish Territory and allies held a strategic picket and distributed flyers outside the Australian Consulate in solidarity with refugee revolts in Australia.

Security harassment began from the outset, with a private security guard telling the group that standing with a banner in front of the building could be seen as obstruction.

One of the picketers was an Australian woman who demanded to visit with the Australian consul. At first security tried to stand in the way; eventually protesters were allowed up to the consul office with an escort of RCMP.

On being delivered a flyer condemning the actions of the Australian government that criminalizes migrants, the Consulate representative refused to comment, saying a response would come from Australia.

Click here to read NOII-Vancouver/Coast Salish Territory's letter to the migrants held at the Villawood detention centre in Austraila.