“Time to reset. The genocide is worse now than ever before. Let’s come together to discuss how we can make a difference into the future. You’re invited!”
Free Palestine Melbourne’s (FPM) invitation to numerous local activist, community, faith, union and council groups that have sprung up in the city and the state since October 2023 attracted more than 80 people, representing 25 different groups to a strategy day on July 5.
The event was designed to reconnect people and networks after more than 18 months of rallies protesting Labor’s complicity in weapons’ sales to Israel, making far too many thousands of kites representing the children killed in Gaza, and the fundraising, film screenings, car convoys, walking, running and cycling activities for Palestine.
“Palestine has become the foremost human rights movement of the 21st century,” said Mai Saif from FPM. “It has illustrated the intersectionality of many causes. We are seeing people and groups who would not normally turn up for Palestine, join the movement in solidarity.”
People reported back on their group’s activities. We heard of the student groups’ efforts organising the campus encampments and researching university complicity with arms manufacturers on campus. Students For Palestine is now working towards a nationwide National Day of Action for Palestine on August 7.
Rank-and-file unionists that came included nurses and healthcare workers, teachers and school staff, the Australian Services Union (ASU), Community and Public Sector Union, Construction Forestry and Maritime Employees Union, Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union and the Maritime Workers Union.
The nurses, teachers and ASU have been the most active, working largely on divestment campaigns targeting industry superannuation funds and against workplace repression, given that staff have been dismissed for actions in support of Palestine.
Labor Friends of Palestine spoke about its campaign to ask branches to pass motions calling for ceasefire, sanctions and an end to all military trade with Israel, and to forward these onto foreign minister Penny Wong. It has nearly reached its target of 50 branches nationally.
The Loud Jew Collective and the Jewish Council of Australia spoke about their work and their educational outreach to the Jewish community.
Local council groups from Banyule, Bass Coast, Dandenong, Darebin, Menzies, Melbourne, Merri-bek, Port Phillip, Whitehorse and Wyndham reported on the abundance of their suburban activity.
Four different workshops were held on the Sanctions Israel Now campaign, the Converge on Canberra, the upcoming Victorian Labor Conference and networking among local council groups.
Many found the event reinvigorating, encouraged by the discussions among many diverse groups about their successes and challenges.
There was a mood to keep the discussions going, with future events to strategise on specific campaigns or actions. Many groups asked for more assistance and coordination.
“We have all done so much work, from Free Palestine Melbourne being the sole local group in 2019, to the numerous groups out there now,” said Amin Abbas of Councils for Palestine. “Let’s build a bigger, better movement of solidarity with Palestine.”