‘End the siege on Gaza’: Hundreds protest at pro-Palestine rally
Pro-Palestine protesters will rally in the streets of Brisbane city again next week after a peaceful demonstration with no arrests on Friday night.
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Pro-Palestine protesters will rally in the streets of Brisbane city again next week after a peaceful demonstration with no arrests on Friday night.
Several hundred gathered at King George Square, chanting, waving flags, crying and marching on the CBD.
A large police presence monitored the group and a QPS spokeswoman confirmed later in the night, no arrests were made.
A spokeswoman for Justice For Palestine implored those attending Friday’s protest to also rally on October 21.
“Join us to mourn the lives lost and call for an end to Israel’s war on Palestinians,” she said.
“This war did not begin last week, but in 1948 when Zionist militias ethnically cleansed almost one million Palestinians from their land in order to found the state of Israel.”
“It has continued since for over 75 years of settler colonialism, apartheid, and brutal occupation.”
On Friday night chants began at 6pm with demonstrators repeating “end the siege on Gaza”.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” could also be heard.
Protesters held signs saying “end the occupation,” while chanting “occupation is a crime, free free Palestine”.
The first speaker likened the plight of the Palestinian people to that of Australian First Nations people saying both experienced genocide, ethnic cleansing and “brutal violent occupation.”
“We oppose all forms of racism, we oppose antisemitism, we oppose Islamophobia … when Palestinian refugees are allowed to return home, that’s what peace will look like,” she said
An Aboriginal man, introduced only as Will, criticised Prime Minsiter Anthony Albanese for standing by Israel saying they have a right to defend themselves.
“Israel as a state is not in danger, it has one of the best resources militaries in the world,” he said.
“We are hear to say we support the Palestinian people … and to Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong you don’t represent us you represent barbarism and genocide … we represent humanity.”
Former Greens Councillor, Jonathan Sriranganathan gave an impassioned speech to the crowd admonishing the Albanese government and weapons manufactures profiting from war.
“It is not complex Here today, to show solidarity with the Palestinian people to express our disgust and disappointment with the Australian Government,” he said.
“ This ongoing war and occupation that received ongoing support from the Australian Government, shame on them.”
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