Media Release: Free Palestine Melbourne Deplores Calls to Relocate Rallies
14 October 2024 – for immediate release
Free Palestine Melbourne, the largest Palestine solidarity organisation in Melbourne, rejects calls by mayoral aspirants Nick Reece and Arron Wood to restrict the right of protestors to rally against Israel’s escalating war against the people of Palestine and Lebanon.
“The protests are the Victorian public’s reaction to a new forever war waged by Israel and its supporters against, not only the people of Palestine and Lebanon, but against aid workers, journalists, doctors, nurses, United Nations peacekeepers, human rights activists, the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Genocide Convention,” said Muayad Ali of Free Palestine Melbourne.
“Instead of trying to restrict Victorians’ right to protest, we urge the Allen government to reconsider its support for Israel, to cease showcasing Israeli weapons systems at the obscene Land Forces arms fair, and to stop misrepresenting popular non-violent protests against genocide as somehow anti-social.”
Free Palestine Melbourne rejects as baseless Nick Reece’s claim that restaurants in Chinatown cannot serve yum cha and the claim by City of Melbourne Council candidate Rafael Camillo that people are afraid to leave their apartments during rallies.
“Anyone who has attended a single Palestine rally in Melbourne this year is immediately struck by its inclusiveness, diversity and sense of community. We have people of all ages and all nationalities. There are frequently Jewish speakers and always a block of Jewish protestors, who have never complained about feeling unsafe or unwelcome.
“Mr Reece’s claim that people cannot eat yum cha in Chinatown because of Palestine protests is a ridiculous fabrication. Demonstrators come from all over Victoria to attend our rallies. While in the CBD, they patronise shops, cafes, restaurants and bars,” Mr Ali said.
Free Palestine Melbourne is determined to continue to rally at the State Library for as long as the Gaza genocide continues.
“The State Library is a public library. Its forecourt is for the use of the public. The protest of October 6 was among the largest Melbourne has ever seen and a clear demonstration of the scale and depth our popular support. We reject totally calls to introduce a permit system or close the library to Palestine protestors, which would be an assault on the democratic freedoms of all Victorians,” said Mr Ali.
Although Free Palestine Melbourne encourages people to bring Palestinian and Lebanese flags to rallies, it rejects calls to arrest people waving Hizbollah flags.
“Those who call for the banning of Hizbollah flags today will call for the banning of Palestinian flags tomorrow. Israel has killed many times more people than Hizbollah ever will but no one is calling for the banning of its flag,” Mr Ali said.
Despite the calls to restrict the protests, Free Palestine Melbourne is confident that it is on the right side of history.
“In 1971, anti-apartheid protestors were denounced for disrupting the Springboks’ tour of Australia. Today they are recognised as heroes.
“The massive demonstration of October 6 is a proof that the public is on our side. Opportunistic politicians might criticise us today but it will not be long before Australia thanks us for saving its honour,” said Mr Ali.
For more information contact: info@fpmelbourne.org
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