Solidarity marches with Kobanê have taken place in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide as part of the 1 November Global Day for Kobanê.

Kurds from all four parts of Kurdistan, and Australians, took part in the marches, at which the slogan “Long live the Kobanê resistance” was shouted.

A march was organised in the city of Perth in Western Australia by the Kurdish Culture Centre and supported by Australian socialist and green parties.  The march began on the Murray St Mall, the busiest part of the city, at 11 am. İsmail Aslan from the Kurdish Culture Centre made a speech, saying the canton system established in Rojava was liberation for the communities in the Middle East. He called on the Australian government to do more to prevent the attacks by ISIS gangs on Kobanê.

Alex Bainbridge from the Socialist Alternative Group drew attention to the importance of the women’s revolution in Rojava, saying that women all over the world should take ownership of Kobanê, adding that everyone should support the heroic resistance of the YPG and YPJ fighters.

Other speakers called on the Australian government to provide humanitarian and military aid.

During the march the people shouted the slogans “Kobanê is not alone”, “Long live the Kobanê resistance”, “Sinjar is not alone”, “Long live Rojava” and “Long live the Kobanê resistance”.

In Sydney a march began at 2 pm, which was well attended despite the bad weather. Peter Boyle, from the Socialist Unity Party which supported the march, made a speech calling for support for the  Kobanê resistance. He ended his speech by shouting: “Long live Kurdistan”.

There were also marches in Melbourne and in Adelaide, where a torch lit march took place.