In a blatantly political move, Queensland’s Chief Magistrate blocked Justice for Palestine Magan-djin (JFP) from marching over the Story Bridge as part of the August 24 nationwide day of action for Palestine two days before the march was scheduled.
Justice for Palestine has moved the march to Queens Gardens, and that change has been “authorised” by the Court.
On August 21, the magistrate denied JFP the right to cross the Story Bridge. The following day, the magistrate went further and ruled that even assembling at Raymond Park as protesters had advertise would be “unauthorised”.
In an August 22 media conference, JFP's Remah Naji pointed out that police had created an unsafe environment in what would have previously been entirely safe.
JFP has moved the action to Queens Gardens in response.
“This was never about a bridge”, Naji said. “This was always about Palestine and Palestinians.”
Justice for Palestine Magan-djin released the following statement on August 22:
The court has authorised our Sunday rally and march for Palestine.
The location of our march this Sunday has now changed, we will rally at Queen’s Gardens at 1pm Sunday 24 August and march over the Victoria Bridge to Musgrave Park, joining the historic nationwide day of action for Palestine.
It is our responsibility to continue to stand up against the war crimes that Israel is committing against the Palestinian people. Palestinians in Gaza are being starved to death by Israel. An entire generation of Palestinian children are now either malnourished or dead. Israeli occupation forces are preying on civilians, committing daily massacres against Palestinians lining up to receive food that they desperately need to feed their families.
By attempting to block our march, the LNP and QPS are siding with the perpetrators of these atrocities. History will remember their complicity.
The Australian Labor government is also supporting these atrocities through its two-way arms trade with Israel, and by refusing to uphold Australia’s legal responsibilities under the Genocide Convention, which requires states to take measures to prevent genocide, such as through sanctioning the perpetrator state.
We will see you at 1pm Sunday 24 August to march over the Victoria Bridge.
Let’s make this the biggest protest this city has ever seen.
From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.
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