As dozens of activists faced court on June 30 for defying Queensland’s pro-genocide/anti-free speech law banning Palestine freedom slogans, Helen O’Sullivan, a participant in the recent Gaza Freedom Flotilla, was arrested for saying one of the banned slogans outside the court.
Justice for Palestine Magan-djin (JFP) activist Phil Monsour opened the rally saying that in three days Israel’s genocide would have been ongoing for 1000 days. More than 1400 Palestinians have been killed since the so-called ceasefire, which has been in place for close to one year, he said.
“It takes more than seven hours to read the names of all the Palestinian children that have been killed [during the genocide],” Monsour pointed out. “Yet here we are outside the court to support 30 people who had the audacity to utter a few words and say ‘free Palestine’.”
Gaza Freedom Flotilla participant Sam Watson, who was arrested for defying the law on June 14, told the rally that the laws are designed to scare people away from speaking out for human rights and against the Labor government’ complicity in war crimes.
Watson said that the Palestine solidarity movement is not going to be intimidated. “We will keep fighting for freedom and peace.”
O’Sullivan told the rally that the slogan “From the River to the Sea” is a cry for freedom and justice. “That is never something that our justice system should try to silence.”
Arrestees facing court had their cases adjourned until December 2 to allow time for the High Court challenge case, which the JFP is planning to file in July.
