Pro-Palestine protests held in Sydney and Melbourne amid Minns pushing to ban ‘globalise the intifada’ chant
“Globalise the intifada” has been chanted at a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney after NSW Premier Chris Minns pushed for the slogan to be banned as part of changes to hate speech laws, following the Bondi terrorist attack.
More than 250 protesters were outside Sydney’s Town Hall on Monday evening to oppose the NSW Government’s legislative changes, which could see ‘globalise the intifada’ be classed as hate speech.
The chant has been used to advocate for resistance against Israel’s occupation in Palestine.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.When announcing proposed changes to hate speech on Saturday, Premier Minns said the terrorist attack had shown that the phrase “is hate speech and it encourages violence in our community”.
He also proposed changes to protest laws, which could see the authorisation of public assemblies restricted once a terrorist incident is formally declared.
The proposed laws were described as a “kneejerk response” by speakers at the rally on Monday evening.
Michelle Berkon, a protester removed by police from Bondi’s memorial site last week, spoke at the rally.
“This kind of event should never have been politicised. Let’s also mourn the manipulation and exploitation of this Australian tragedy by those who want to suppress the voices calling for justice and destroy our democratic freedoms,” she said, according to The Australian.
“Freedom of expression and freedom of assembly exist precisely to protect what are seemingly disruptive and dissenting voices,” human rights lawyer Sara M. Saleh said at the protest.
The proposed laws, which are now before the NSW Parliament, would make it an offence punishable by up to two years’ jail or a $22,000 fine for anyone public displaying terrorist symbols, such as ISIS flags.
The Sydney rally came at the same time as a pro-Palestine protest in Melbourne, with about 100 people going against calls from Premier Jacinta Allen and Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush to cancel the rally.
