Protesters scolded local MP and genocide apologist, Peter Khalil, at a Coburg rally for Palestine on September 7.
Rally co-chair Sophie MacGillivray from Merri-bek 4 Palestine quoted Khalil complaining about protesters 鈥渄iminish[ing] democracy鈥 because he chooses to barricade his office. What could be more important than protesting genocide, .
鈥淚t is close to a year since Israel began it鈥檚 genocide against Palestine, yet there is still little to no action from the Albanese government,鈥 rally co-chair Jacob Andrewartha told the crowd.
鈥淭he Albanese government claims that it supports peace in Palestine, but has refused to condemn Israel for it鈥檚 war crimes, ban weapon鈥檚 exports to Israel, or eject the Israel ambassador.鈥
Answering people who say that protesting makes no difference, Socialist Alliance Merri-bek Councillor Sue Bolton that 鈥渋f Australia carried out sanctions against Israel, and encouraged other countries to take out sanctions against Israel, Israel would be forced to stop their bombing鈥.
Speaking about the coming council elections, she pointed out that 鈥渢he [Australian Labor Party] ALP has voted against all of the Palestine motions鈥 and so, even though Labor has nominated a Muslim candidate in Fawkner, she suspects that he would vote along party lines, against Palestine, if he were elected.
She said 鈥渢here is a pitched battle of words going on鈥, among Muslims in Fawkner, between those who want to vote for a Muslim because of their identity and those who want to vote for Bolton because of her pro-Palestine record.
The rally profiled pro-Palestine candidates in the coming local council elections, including Bolton, the Greens鈥 Darebin candidate Muhammad Helmy and Victorian Socialists鈥 Bullek-bek candidate, Louisa Bassini.
Helmy pointed out that Khalil鈥檚 profiling of his Egyptian heritage meant little since the vast majority of Egyptians, Helmy included, 鈥渟tand with the right of Palestinians to resist and to get their freedom鈥.
Bassini highlighted trade unions and social movement activism as the means for ordinary people to defeat the rich and powerful who enable genocide.
One protester dressed as a clown to mock Khalil's appointment as Labor鈥檚 鈥渟pecial envoy for social cohesion鈥.
Nat Farrah also spoke at the rally highlighting the Disrupt Land Forces actions this week.
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