Thousands join pro-Palestine march in Brisbane

Thousands of people gathered in Brisbane on Sunday for the “Al Nakba rally”, calling for an end to “the ongoing genocide in Gaza”. At one point the crowd sat down on a CBD street to listen to a speech.

Thousands of people gathered in Brisbane’s King George Square on Sunday for the “Al Nakba rally”, calling for an end to “the ongoing genocide in Gaza”.

During the actual march protesters sat in the middle of a CBD street to listen to a speech.

Palestinian flags, protest signs and keffiyeh made up the crowd in front of the stage before the march, with the welcome to country and speeches starting just after 3pm.

Among the crowd was a young girl holding up a sign depicting Bluey saying “Ceasfire (sic) noooow!”.

The Brisbane-based cartoon character was wearing a keffiyeh and holding a Palestinian flag.

Those with generational stories and stories of their own took to the stage, leading the crowds in chants of “Free, free, Palestine” and “From the river to the sea!”.

The final speech at the square was given by Nasser Mashni from Justice for Palestine Megan-djin.

A young girl at the pro-Palestine march holds a sign depicting Bluey. Picture: Liam Kidston

He said of the slogan “From the river to the sea”, “we cannot let them take that chant away from us”.

He stated that politicians “say the slogan opposes a two-state solution” but that that’s the point of the chant.

“A two-state solution is a racist solution,” he said.

Pro-Palestine protest at King George Square. Picture: Liam Kidston

“It’s a solution that allows for Jewish supremacy over other people.

“We say to those who stand with Israel: Shame”.

The crowd then chanted back: “Shame!”

“We have power,” he said.

“The people have had enough and they want a change.”

The march, which had police vehicles at the front and back. Picture: Liam Kidston

After speeches concluded, the crowd was lead in a chant of “Free, free Palestine” in Arabic.

At about 4.30pm the crowd marched from King George Square on to Adelaide St, chanting “Free, free Palestine” and “Intifada, Intifada” - referring to the uprising of Palestinians in the Middle East.

Pro-Palestine protest at King George Square. Picture: Liam Kidston

As the crowd marched through the city, they were escorted by police vehicles at the front and back of the group.

At about 5pm, just before the end of the march, the crowd sat down on Charlotte St. The leaders of the march stood on George Street to face the group.

The rally at King George Square. Picture: Liam Kidston

A Palestinian man addressed the crowd, telling stories of his family.

“How much longer can we take this?” he asked.

He finished his speech with a statement: “Palestinians are here. We’re not going anywhere.”

The protest remained peaceful, with the large crowd filling the width of the city streets as participants waved flags and marched behind police.

The last stretch of the march lead protesters back to King George Square, where they again chanted “Free, free Palestine” before the crowd dispersed.

In Melbourne, there were heated scenes as thousands of pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protesters faced off, with police rushing through the crowd to help an elderly woman carrying an Israeli flag.

Police blocked Spring St between state parliament and the Princess Theatre, preventing pro-Palestinian protesters from interrupting a pro-Israel rally organised by Christian group “Never Again is Now”.

It was estimated a crowd of about 7000 people attended the pro-Israel rally.

Even with the blockages, police were forced to intervene several times as members of opposing groups clashed.

Six people were arrested and released pending summons.