Night of Broken Glass and the Protest by William Cooper
Where: Cathedral Hall, Australian Catholic University – 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy
When: 3.00pm and 6.00pm, Sunday 18th November
Ticket prices: $25
Further information and tickets are available here.
On the 80th anniversary of the Kristallnacht, Kristallnahe Night of Broken Glass in Germany and the subsequent protest by Yorta Yorta man, William Cooper to the German Consulate in Melbourne, a socially inclusive theatre group will perform Night of Broken Glass a multi-media, musical commemoration at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) in Fitzroy.
Night of Broken Glass will commemorate the events of Kristallnacht, when over two days, 9th and 10th November 1938, Nazi paramilitary and civilians killed at least 91 Jews and began anti-Jewish pogroms that saw the destruction of schools, businesses properties and 267 synagogues across Germany, Austria and Sudetenland. These events led to the arrests and incarceration of 30,000 Jews in concentration camps and are viewed as the beginning of the Holocaust.
On the 80th anniversary of the Kristallnacht, Kristallnahe Night of Broken Glass in Germany and the subsequent protest by Yorta Yorta man, William Cooper to the German Consulate in Melbourne, a socially inclusive theatre group will perform Night of Broken Glass a multi-media, musical commemoration at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) in Fitzroy.
The following month, on 6th December, 78 year old tribal elder, William Cooper led a protest delegation of the Australian Aborigines’ League to the German Consulate in Melbourne to deliver a petition which condemned the “cruel persecution of the Jewish people by the Nazi Government”. Mr. Cooper walked nearly 10 kilometres from his home in Melbourne’s west to the CBD with his friends, family and members of the League. The German Consulate did not accept the petition.
William Cooper’s protest is now regarded as the only private protest following the events of Kristallnacht.
Night of Broken Glass is a project of Australian composer and musical director Warren Wills and ACU educationalist, Dr Beth Rankin. Modelled on previous inclusive music projects run in the UK, Hong Kong, Shepparton and Melbourne, it will be an entertaining, educational and hope-inspiring experience championing the human rights of all oppressed peoples. It will use music and dance to unite different generations and cultures. Performers include a flexible, alternating company of over 300 amateur youth and professional actors, singers and dancers, including ACU students and staff, The Choir of Hard Knocks, students from St Matthews Primary School Fawkner, Aurora Early Education, Brothers in Arms Aboriginal dance company and the recently formed, Men Aloud.
“Every Australian child should learn the story of William Cooper,” says Dr Beth Rankin. “
As one of Australia’s largest teacher-training universities, we want to prepare our students to teach this inspirational piece of Australian history. It’s wonderful example of ACU’s mission of respect for the dignity of the human person and the common good.”
Night of Broken Glass has been created in partnership with the German Embassy in Australia and the German Consul in Melbourne. It is supported by the Australian Catholic University and the Pratt Foundation.
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