Thousands Have Rallied Across Australia In Solidarity with Palestinians This Weekend
"What is happening in Palestine now is not an isolated incident."
As Israeli’s occupation of Palestine violently escalates, thousands of people rallied at protests around the country to stand in solidarity with Palestinians on the anniversary of Nakba.
‘Nakba’ is Arabic for ‘diaster’ and, for the Palestinians, refers to the day in 1948 that Israel began their occupation of Palestinian land, beginning the displacement and massacring 100s of 1000s of Palestinians over generations.
According to Junkee’s social justice reporter, Millie Roberts, there was an estimated turnout between 2500-4000 at the march in Sydney. In both Sydney and Melbourne, protests were peaceful. The marches were organised as the Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to over 130.
Photo courtesy of Millie Roberts (@milianne_r)
Don’t think that Australia has nothing to do with what’s happening in Palestine. Over the last four years, Aus bought $100,000,000s in military tech from Israeli defence contractor Elbit who helped build Israel’s apartheid wall
— Joshua Badge (@joshuabadge) May 12, 2021
Speakers included Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi who condemned the escalating situation in Gaza. “What is happening in Palestine now is not an isolated incident. It is part of a broader pattern of destroying the lives and livelihoods of Palestinians,” she said.
Other talking points at the Sydney event included the importance of avoiding passive, centrist language when discussing Israel’s occupation. Calling it a conflict, as many have pointed out, implies that both sides have equal power and validity. Israel is occupying and colonising Palestine.
Photo courtesy of Millie Roberts (@milianne_r)
Author, Sara Saleh said at the rally, “at every point in history, colonisers have been creative in portraying themselves as victims… our narratives, our archives, our voices are being heard.” Many parallels were drawn between Israel’s occupation of Palestine and Australia’s ongoing attempted colonisation of First Nations peoples.
In Naarm (Melbourne), Palestinian and Lebanese advocate and educator, Jeanine Hourani spoke of the solidarity between Palestinians and Indigenous Australians. “Our fight for the liberation of Palestine on this continent must first and foremost centre Aboriginal sovereignty … your fight is our fight & our struggle is one,” she said.
This movement has no room for racism, anti-blackness, anti- semitism, islamophobia.
Here’s a snippet from Sara’s speech. Fierce and poetic Sara is a force of nature pic.twitter.com/BohWC4eNDn— Randa Abdel-Fattah (@RandaAFattah) May 15, 2021
from occupied gadigal to occupied gaza, we will be fee ✊? #freepalastine pic.twitter.com/CP4eCFee1h
— Tameeka Tighe she/her (@TameekaTighe) May 15, 2021
The march around the CBD began at 3:30 pm. Protester’s chants included, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” “Bow down Israel,” and “Gaza, Gaza don’t you cry, Palestine will never die”
Similar peaceful protests were organised and carried out across the world. London, Tokyo, France, Madrid, Mexico, and across the USA in global solidarity.
Photo courtesy of Millie Roberts (@milianne_r)
If you were unable to attend protests this weekend, here is a helpful resource on other ways you can support Palestinians in occupied Palestine.
Junkee reached out to the organisers of the Sydney protest for comment. Special thanks to Junkee’s social justice reporter, Millie Roberts for photos.
Merryana Salem (she/they) is a proud Wonnarua and Lebanese–Australian writer, critic, teacher, researcher and podcaster on most social media as @akajustmerry. If you want, check out their podcast, GayV Club where they gush about LGBT rep in media. Either way, she hopes you ate something nice today.