At least 200 people participated in a Kath & Kim styled fun run in Magan-djin/Brisbane on June 6 to point to the absurdity of Queensland’s so-called hate speech laws and to raise money for a High Court challenge to the laws.
This action was the sequel to a highly successful April 17 Farnsey Flashmob where people danced to John Farnham’s “Two Strong Hearts”, which contains a lyric suggestive of one of the banned phrases.
26 people have been arrested for defying the law which prohibits the expression of “From the River to the Sea” and “Globalise the Intifada” - Palestine freedom slogans targetted by supporters of Israel’s genocide. The “From the River to the Sea” slogan has actively been used to build the movement against Australia's complicity in that genocide.
Several people joined the fun run with slogans on their race bibs or shirts which defied the law, however, police who were in attendance didn’t arrest anybody. One police officer is reported to have told one of the participants that “there are bad things happening in Queensland but this is not one of them”.
Police have so far taken no action against Jewish psychologist Stephen Heydt for his speech about the “Globalise the Intifada” slogan - which he said, and wore on his shirt, directly outside the Queensland Police Headquarters on May 15.
Justice for Palestine Magan-djin (JFP) is organising another day of action on June 14: Six words for a free Palestine. JFP is encouraging people to bring creative signs that are similar to or make fun of the banned slogans.
Some people may bring signs that exactly display the banned slogans which will test again whether police are still intending to enforce this law.
In addition to the Magan-djin fun run, similar solidarity actions took place in Boorloo/Perth, Naarm/Melbourne, Gadigal Country/Sydney and Bowrel/Bowral.
Organisers reported on the day that more than $12,000 had been raised for JFP’s High Court challenge up until that point, however, more money is still coming in and the final total is expected to be much larger.
People came in costume and wrote creative expressions on the race bibs which read “From the ___ to the ___”, allowing people to fill in the blanks to their own taste.
One unicyclist carried a sign: “Reminder: Genocide bad”. One person dressed up as Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu with a sign reading “Zionism: running out of time, lies and gullible Goyim but still in possession of your politicians”.
At the end of the race, there was a “Menace-o-meter” measuring the menace caused by participants from “prohibited melon” to “seeds of menace” to “juicy”.
While the law appears absurd - and it is - it is also dangerous. It is a serious attack on free speech and the Palestine solidarity movement. This action is the latest in an ongoing campaign to both defeat Israel’s genocide and to defend free speech.
Supporters can donate to JFP’s High Court challenge here.
