Student activists’ fundraising appeal after car crash en route to Rising Tide People’s Blockade in Newcastle
A group of “poor student activists” are crowd-funding after they crashed a car on their way to the anti-coal blockade in Newcastle while uninsured.
St George Shire Standard
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A group of student activists who were on their way to the Newcastle Port protest has raised almost $8000 after they were involved in a “major crash,” with one member of the group suffering a broken finger.
According to the fundraiser, organised by University of Sydney student Jasmine Alrawi, the group ran into trouble as they were driving to Newcastle to join the Rising Tide Climate Blockade last weekend.
“We were [going] to join the blockade of the world’s largest coal port with all our equipment in the boot when we got into a major car crash on a freeway,” the fundraiser read.
“The airbags were deployed and the front passenger and driver suffered minor injuries including a broken finger. Luckily everyone is okay, just a bit shaken.
“Unfortunately as poor student activists the car was not covered by insurance and we have been burdened with a huge bill to cover as a result.”
By Tuesday morning, the fundraiser had received 98 donations and sits at $7595 – just a couple of thousand dollars shy of the $10,000 target.
The page explained repairs for the car were expected to cost more than $10,000, leaving no choice but to write-off the vehicle and replace it with another car worth $15,000.
“The repairs are looking to be well over $10k, so it is looking like the car is a write off and we will have to replace it, being around $15k. We are also burdened with paying for the repairs for the other cars in the crash which will be thousands of dollars,” the page read.
“Already in huge shock with the accident, the burden of the expenses is only adding to the distress we are facing.
“The owner of the car has also just lost both their parents and have little support network to pay the costs.”
According to the page, three members of the group caught the train to Newcastle to participate in the blockade after “spending hours in the emergency room (dealing) with injuries”.
“That is the spirit that we take to our activism whether it’s for Palestine or the climate,” the page read.
The group went on to describe themselves as “some of the most active and dedicated campaigners in Sydney,” known for establishing the controversial University of Sydney Gaza Solidarity Encampment and attending “every weekly Palestinian demonstration”.
According to her Facebook account, Ms Alrawi contested the USYD Student Representative Council election this year with the Left Action group, also known as the Socialist Alternative (SAlt).
SAlt is one of the most present activist groups on university campuses across the country with a self-professed goal “to overthrow capitalism”.
The group’s crowd-funding pitch ended with a final appeal for people to “donate generously”.
Ms Alrawi was contacted for comment but did not wish to speak with media.
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