Australia urged to break from AUKUS at July 4 protest

July 12, 2024
Issue 
Protesting outside the US Consulate on July 4. Photo: Chris Slee

About 100 people joined a rally outside the US Consulate on July 4 to protest the United States role in generating war and devastation across the globe.

Chris Slee, representing the Socialist Alliance, criticised the US for supporting Israel鈥檚 genocidal war against the people of Palestine, including with weapons to massacre the people of Gaza. 鈥淪upporting Israel is part of US strategy to control the Middle East.鈥

Slee also spoke about Australia鈥檚 role in supporting the US, with its bases, troops and military aircraft stationed in the country. The Pine Gap base provides critical intelligence to the US to spy on other countries. Slee said the AUKUS military alliance, which ties Australia closer to the US, must end.

Sunday, who represented Anakbayan Melbourne, criticised the US for gearing up for war with China. Although US bases were kicked out of the Philippines in 1992, joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines have resumed. She criticised the US and China for their actions in the West Philippines Sea.

Maree Dellora from the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society said the US falsely accuses Cuba of sponsoring terrorism, whereas the US is supporting Israeli terrorism against Palestinians.

She said the US economic blockade against Cuba aims to create 鈥渉unger and desperation鈥, with the goal being to overthrow the Cuban government.

Lucho Riquelme and Marisol Salinas from the Latin American Solidarity Network denounced US imperialism in Latin America and elsewhere. Salinas said that the US is the world鈥檚 鈥渘umber one terrorist鈥 which 鈥渓oots Latin America's resources鈥.

Muhammad and Tasmin from the Free Palestine Coalition also spoke. Tasmin said that the US stands for 鈥渞acism, colonialism, imperialism slavery and neoliberalism鈥. She said that the US, Australia and Israel are examples of settler colonialism and stick together.

Joe Montero from the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign chaired the protest.

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