Seven people were arrested at Justice for Palestine Magan-djin’s (JFP) “Six words for a free Palestine” rally on June 14.
The “six words” refers to the chant “From the River to the Sea” which, at rallies, is usually followed by “Palestine will be free”.
The Liberal National Queensland government has banned the display or recital of those six words, as well as the slogan “Globalise the Intifada”.
The seven arrests for saying those words bring the total number to around 32 — one person was arrested twice. They included Aboriginal activist and Sumud Flotilla participant Sam Watson, who spoke about their experience on the Global Sumud Flotilla, where hundreds of people were abducted by Israel in international waters.
Watson was held for 80 hours; he heard Israeli occupation solders laughing and jeering as they “abused and raped and humiliated my comrades for daring to stand in solidarity with Palestinians”.
The Israeli Occupation Forces broke Watson’s ribs and they were placed in stress positions for hours, among other criminal and degrading treatment.
Watson acknowledged that 10,000 Palestinian prisoners face more extreme treatment. “When I say ‘From the River to the Sea, Palestine should be free’ I mean that I have seen, first hand, what the occupation does and it should not be allowed to continue.”
“The government is responsible for the abuse we endured; they enabled it, they have emboldened it. They have made it so that Israel operates with a level of impunity — only been achieved by years of not being held responsible for committing genocide against Palestinians.”
Jewish psychologist Stephen Heydt, who has chronic medical conditions, was knocked over during an arrest; an ambulance had to be called.
Heydt was arrested for saying “From the River to the Sea”, along with 19 others, on April 19. However, so far, he not been charged for a speech outside police headquarters on May 15, where he spoke about, and wore a T-shirt displaying “Globalise the Intifada”.
Heydt was one of several people who were not arrested on June 14 even though they displayed signs with one of the prohibited expressions. Most of those arrested, including Ellen Roberts who was chairing a parade of creative signs protesting the law, were arrested for speaking or chanting the slogan.
Similarly, there were no arrests at the Kath & Kim fun run the week before even though people displayed one of the banned slogans there as well.
A variety of signs included slogans such as: “From the loch to the quay”; “From the petals to the roots”; “From river bank to seaside, stop supporting genocide”; and “From the creek to the coast, we love Palestine the most”.
One person brought a detailed headpiece in the shape of a ship with the words “From the riva to the cee”.
Premier David Crisafulli told media that JFP’s continued use of banned phrases incited violence because he maintains it is a call for the eradication of a group of people.
The claim is false. Palestinian and Jewish activists and academics have repeatedly demonstrated that the slogans promote freedom and equal rights for all peoples living in the area.
JFP’s Remah Naji said: “This law caters to the feelings of Zionists and ignores hard facts, the most salient of which is that Israel continues to commit genocide against the Palestinian people. We will never be silent while it continues.”
Crisafulli also minimised the seriousness of his laws by saying people were simply being “asked” not to use the prohibited expressions.
In fact, people can be imprisoned for up to two years for saying six words.
JFP is preparing a High Court challenge to the law, which it expects to lodge in July.
[Donate to JFP’s High Court challenge here.]
At least 200 people participated in a Kath & Kim-styled fun run on June 6 to highlight the absurdity of Queensland’s so-called hate speech laws and raise money for a High Court challenge to them.
