Uprising of the People: Darwin based group pair up with Australia Palestine Advocacy Network

One of the nation’s leading pro-Palestinian advocates met, ate and rallied with Territorian activists. Why he came to the Top End.

(From L-R) Kulumbirigin Danggalaba man Leonard May, Kulumbirigin Danggalaba woman Mililma May and Palestinian man Nasser Mashni.

A Darwin-based grassroots organisation has joined forces with the country’s leading Palestinian advocacy group in a bid to challenge the position of local MPs.

Over the weekend, President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, Nasser Mashni, completed a tour of Darwin to connect with both Palestinian and First Nation activists.

Darwin-based Uprising of the People chief executive Mililma May said voters would engage elected officials on Indigenous-related issues both domestically and abroad.

“It’s so important that Territorians remember how powerful our votes are,” she said.

“We have an election coming up and we can use that (to show) Territorians care about other people and that is something Territorians do – we’re very caring people.

“And in our caring ways we want to make sure our MPs reflect that and we want MPs to know that demanding a ceasefire is something that we demand that they do in order to get our vote.”

Uprising of the People chief executive Mililma May has been a prominent voice in the Top End on Indigenous issues. Picture: Zizi Averill.

A proud Danggalaba Kulumbirigin woman, Ms May said Australia was in a position to become a leading voice on land rights.

“With our own experience of colonialism, whether you’re Indigenous or not, we all have that lived experience of living in a colonised nation, which is why the stories of Palestinians is so close to home for us,” she said.

“Whether you’re Indigenous or not, there are so many similarities and that’s why it’s very easy for us to extend our humanity and our support for Palestinians.”

Mr Mashni told the NT News he was not surprised by the warm reception he received by the Top End’s Larrakia locals.

“The foundation document for Australia was terra nullius – nobody’s land,” he said.

“In Palestine, the Zionist foundation document was a ‘land without a people, for people without a land’ – they are both western European settle colony constructs.”

Nasser Mashni joined a Territorian rally on Sunday at Nightcliff Foreshore. Photo: Supplied.

Mr Mashni’s visit included a lead role in Sunday’s rally on Nightcliff Foreshore as well as speaking at Charles Darwin University.

Mr Mashni said he believed Palestine’s ongoing situation could become an election issue.

“I cannot expect every Territorian is going to be as motivated as I am (on this issue), I can’t expect that, but I know from my travels that many Territorians – and Australians – all over the continent are feeling almost as inflamed as I am,” he said.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be a huge election issue in the Northern Territory, but I suspect it’s going to be a real challenge in parts of Western Sydney and in Melbourne.”