Call it what you will -- pappadums for peace, tolerance from the Tandoor or korma for karma --- but Melbourne has rallied in a novel way to speak out against racially motivated violence and racism
Call it what you will -- pappadums for peace, tolerance from the Tandoor or korma for karmau00a0--- but Melbourne has rallied in a novel way to speak out against racially motivated violence and racism
Vindaloo Against Violence asks Melbournians to protest violence by dining at their local Indian restaurant today in response to a spate of attacks around the city.
Over 16,000 protesters have registered their participation at more than 400 Indian restaurants Australia-wide. Many restaurants in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra are booked out by protesting diners
While workplace lunch delivery service Tiffins announced that all orders on the day will be large and vindaloo is on the menu to cope with demand.
A Google Map created to show the distribution of the protest includes participants in cities as far away as Tajikstan, Tokyo, New York and Stockholm.
The event has attracted international media coverage and helped carry anti-violence and anti-racism messages.
Mia Northrop, a 35-year- old Melbourne digital media professional, initiated the event to show support for the local Indian community. "We have 16,000 protesters who have petitioned their names and want our immigrant communities to know, and the Indian community especially, that they are welcome, " said Northrop.u00a0
Vindaloo Against Violence started with a public Facebook event to 100 friends and quickly grew as Melburnians sent it on to more than 33,000 others.
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