Media Release: Community groups to rally against racism
Teachers and School Staff for Palestine and a coalition of community groups will rally at 2pm on April 6 at Paul Keating Park, Bankstown, against anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism in particular, and against all forms of racism. The protest has been organised by Teachers and School Staff for Palestine, and has been endorsed by over 30 community organisations.
This racism is being driven from the top of society, from state and federal governments, the opposition, and mainstream institutions, in order to bolster support for Israel’s genocide of the Palestinians.
A press conference will occur at 1pm at the same venue.
Mariam Tohamy, who suffered an anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian racist attack at Bankstown Kmart in December, will be co-chairing the rally and speaking out. Miro Sandev from Teachers and School Staff for Palestine will be co-chairing as well.
Speakers:
- Mehreen Faruqi (Australian Greens Deputy Leader, anti-racism spokesperson)
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Sheikh Wesam Charkawi (Granville Boys High School educator and founder of Muslim Votes Matter)
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Ahmed Abadla (Palestinian from Gaza. Co-founder of Palestinian Justice Movement)
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Paul Silva (Dunghutti man, nephew of David Dungay Jr, deaths in custody campaigner)
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Wasim El-Haj (Palestinian-Australian educator, was directed not to wear keffiyeh at his school)
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Lizzie Jarrett (Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung, and Dunghutti woman, child removals campaigner)
Quotes attributable to Mariam Tohamy, member of Teachers and School Staff for Palestine:
“Racism against Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians is being stoked by our elected leaders and elite institutions. Muslims, like myself, have been violently assaulted in Bankstown and in Melbourne. Muslim school buses have been torched and bomb threats aimed at mosques are an almost daily occurrence. The Islamophobia Register has recorded over 1,111 cases of anti-Muslim racism since Israel’s genocide on Palestine began in October 2023. These racist attacks are being fuelled by the anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian policies of mainstream politicians. No one should have to live in fear because of their religion or race.”
Quotes attributable to Miro Sandev, member of Teachers and School Staff for Palestine:
“Israel has murdered at least 70,000 Palestinians, with some estimates at over 300,000. In response, the Albanese Labor government and Peter Dutton reiterate Israel’s right to self-defence and demonise the pro-Palestine movement as extremist. They have refused to condemn Trump’s ethnic cleansing plan and have not issued any sanctions on Israeli leaders or ended weapons trade. All of this normalises the killing of Palestinians. It also dehumanises Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians here in this country and fuels racism. Albanese and Dutton have blood on their hands.”
Quotes attributable to Paul Silva, Aboriginal deaths in custody campaigner and member of Blak Caucus
“I’m a proud Dunghutti man, I stand firmly against all forms of racism and discrimination, including the systemic oppression of Indigenous peoples across the world. From our land to Palestinian land, colonial systems have perpetuated injustice, stripping Indigenous communities of their rights, lands, and cultures. I support abolishing oppressive governments that uphold these structures and advocate for true self-determination. Justice, reconciliation, and Indigenous-led governance are essential for creating a future based on equality, respect, and the recognition of sovereignty for all oppressed peoples.”
Quotes attributable to Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Spokesperson for Anti-Racism:
“Islamophobia is on the rise with Muslims, Palestinians & Arabs bearing the brunt of this hate, while Labor sits on its hands and the Liberals deny its existence.
“Muslim communities are sick and tired of the inaction, double standards and dog whistling when it comes to racism. They are organising and mobilising this election to finally see the end of the broken two-party status quo that doesn’t care about our communities.
“We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. We need to stop supporting politicians and parties that don’t support us. We must back those who are fighting for us. It’s time we draw a line in the sand and demand our rights.”
Quotes attributable to Ahmed Abadla, Palestine Justice Movement Sydney
“At least over the past year and a half, racism against the Muslim, Arab and Palestinian communities in this country have been tightly connected to political decisions taken by this government in support of a settler colonial, genocidal, apartheid regime that is hell-bent on demonising and exterminating the Palestinians in Occupied Palestine.
Combating anti-Semitism must not be undertaken at the expense of promoting other forms of racism nor by silencing dissent against this government’s blatant support for genocide and Apartheid, while infringing upon inalienable civil, social, political and academic rights. And this is precisely what this government seeks to do. Therefore, this government’s decisions are solely to blame for the prevalence of the high levels of racism that we are witnessing right now.”
Quotes attributable to Wasim El-Haj, Palestinian-Australian educator
“When teachers or students, of any racial background, suddenly get instructed and directed to remove culturally identifying garments or face “action”, we know there is a problem. These red flags of repression of Palestinian identity in the NSW Department of Education set a dangerous precedent, favouring some racial backgrounds over others, while enacting an agenda that is in no way neutral or balanced. The dangers of the NSW Department of Education’s racial discrimination towards Palestinian staff and students are both in the harm it causes through exclusion, and the discriminatory society it models for our future generations. What happened to being inclusive?
This month, my former school will be celebrating languages and cultures. Students and staff are encouraged to come in “national dress” and have been told “all welcome.” However, as a teacher of Palestinian heritage, I have been told since May 2024 that “any symbol of Palestine is seen as a symbol of conflict” and directed to remove my Palestinian keffiyeh.”
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Six years on from the horrific attack on a Mosque in New Zealand and not long after an attack upon a mosque in Australia – still people attempting to analyse the madness and dystopia which occupies the minds of those who blindly follow extremist views.
The Israeli – Zionists – have perpetrated to a significant degree, a genocide upon innocent people in Palestine. It is horrifically exposed in pictures every day , of babies , women, children as well as innocent men. It has been widely condemned but never is stopped.
I am appreciative of Paul Silva – whose contribution to the article is one who notes that ‘occupation’ caused the slaughter of his own ancestors and correlates this with what is happening now in Gaza.
Outrageously- the students at Wasim El -Haj’s former school in celebrating a international culture, will not be allowed to wear the Keffiyer.
I do not condone the destruction of synagogues or the graffiti which we have seen recently and is equally wrong but surely- when right to protest is clearly denied some people will resort to other ways to protest. I do honestly despair.
I was 5 years old when Israel was created in a corner of Palestine. Israel has wanted more and more territory ever since and with Western approval the horrific de- humanising and eventual elimination of a people continues, with nobody saying : “Stop”.
Well said, Judith. I’m with you 100%.
True Judith. Also, framing genocide as racism, what’s that about? Was it always Lord Balfour’s plan to trigger a multi-decade conflict culminating in genocide? What dirt do the Zionists have on the parasitic globalist leaders, inc Labor & LNP?