24 weeks of protest: 'We're not normalising genocide'

March 26, 2024

Issue

Palm Sunday protesters in Meanjin/Brisbane call for peace and a ceasefire, March 24. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

The traditional Palm Sunday rallies for peace and refugee rights were organised on the 24th week of continuous protests against Israel's genocide against the people of Gaza.

Rally chairperson Remah Naji in Meanjin/Brisbane told almost 500 people, who braved rainy weather, that the Labor government has failed to take “any serious action” to stop the slaughter.

She pointed to the almost $1 billion military contract with Israeli military company Elbit Systems as proof that the government is not serious about it’s supposed talk of a “sustainable ceasefire”.

“We're past lip service,” she said, arguing that a mere ceasefire is not enough and it is time to sanction Israel.

“We're not normalising the abnormal,” she said. “We're not normalising genocide.”

In a similar vein, Palestinian activist, Omar Ashour, told the rally: “It is time to boycott Israel, it is time for sanctions.”

The combined rally highlighted refugee rights, opposition to the AUKUS military agreement and justice for Palestine.

Cameron Leckie, a former military officer now peace activist, told the rally that AUKUS has no social licence. He said Labor must sign the nuclear weapons ban treaty, respect international law and to repeal the force posture agreement with the United States.

He also highlighted the to the International Criminal Court for their support for genocide.

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Ceasefire now, Meanjin/Brisbane, March 24. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

Between 5000–6000 people marched in Naarm/Melbourne at the Free Palestine Palm Sunday rally on March 24, Chloe DS reported.

The protest focussed on refugee rights and the Palestinian refugees facing further displacement in Rafah.

Protesters are keeping the pressure on Labor to cut ties with Israel, stop pouring millions of dollars into the military trade and to end their cruel treatment of refugees, particularly refugees fleeing the genocide in Gaza.

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Rallying in Naarm/Melbourne, March 24. Photo: Jacob Andrewartha

Union contingents were more visible, including the Australian Nurses and Midwives Federation, Australian Services Union and United Workers Union. The Victorian Trades Hall endorsed the trade union contingent.

The refugee rights movement was on the speaker platform including Lucy Honan from the Refugee Action Collective and Lavanya Thavaraja from the Tamil Refugee Council.

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Union contingents joined the Naarm/Melbourne rally. Photo: Jacob Andrewartha

Two days earlier, a protest organised by Moonee Valley for Palestine mobilised more than 100 people to march from Labor MP Danny Pearson's office to Bill Shorten's office, condemning the Labor's complicity in the genocide in Gaza.

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Mooney Ponds rally against genocide, March 22. Photo: Jacob Andrewartha

Around 200 people gathered in Belmore Park for the Gadigal/Sydney on March 24, Jim McIlroy reported. A separate “Stop the genocide, stop the starvation” rally for Palestine was organised the day before.

The Palm Sunday rally demanded “Peace not War, Permanent Visas for all Refugees, Climate Action not AUKUS Nuclear Subs" and pointed out that war creates refugees.

Thanilselvan Selvakumar, a Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seeker on a bridging visa, told the crowd: “I have been living in Australia for the last 12 years” and that his “case is in court waiting for a decision”.

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“Refugees are often left behind in this country,” he said. “Around 12,000 refugees are now unable to call Australia home, and facing discrimination long-term.”

Reem Borrows, a Palestinian advocate from the Arab Council of Australia, said: “With 2.5 million people facing catastrophe in Gaza, the world is largely staying silent.

“This Palm Sunday, we Christian Palestinians are asking why so many Christians are not using their voices to speak out about the situation,” she said.

Craig Foster, a former Australian football player, refugee advocate and chair of the Australian Republican Movement, Shaye Candish, general secretary of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, and Josephite Sister Susan Connelly also spoke.

Also on March 24, police arrested Maritime Union branch secretary Paul Keating and 17 others at a Port Botany protest against the ZIM shipping line.

Trade Unionists for Palestine said: “ZIM is Apartheid Israel’s oldest and largest shipping company and has declared all of its vessels, ships and infrastructure at the service of Israel during its savage war on Gaza” and that “as Israel continues to massacre civilians, and block life saving food and medical aid, we are taking the fight to ZIM”.

More than 500 people gathered in Forest Place in Boorloo/Perth at a Friends of Palestine WA rally on March 23, Alex Salmon reports.

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Free Palestine rally, Boorloo/Perth. Photo: Alex Salmon

The rally demanded Israel heed the International Court of Justice ruling to prevent genocide, while calling on Labor to break diplomatic, military and trade ties with Israel.

Protesters banged pots and pans as they marched through the city to the Riverside Drive foreshore where a Ramadan Iftar (breaking of the fast) was taking place.

The next Friends of Palestine WA rally will be on April 6 to mark International Children's Day.

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Jews for a Free Palestine, Boorloo/Perth. Photo: Alex Salmon

More than 1000 people gathered outside South Australia's Parliament House on March 24 in the latest demonstration against the Israeli assault on Gaza, reports Renfrey Clarke from Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide.

Speakers included representatives of the Palestinian and First Nations communities, as well as anti-AUKUS activist Anne McMenamin.