In our Thousands in our Millions

Since October 7th, 2023, the Palestine movement has grown across the globe. The staunch resistance and bravery of Palestinians facing invasion and occupation should be an inspiration to us in our fight here in Australia. 

We must draw inspiration from anti-war movements throughout history. In the 1960s and 70s, the slogan ‘stop work to stop the war’ was used in protests against the Vietnam War; students joined workers on strike to rally in the streets. More recently, we saw CFMEU members walk off their work site to support Australian National University (ANU) students being forced to relocate by police and security. They brought attention to the dangerous working conditions at ANU while also defending management’s attacks on student activists. 

At the University of Sydney (USYD), 800 people showed up to the Student General Meeting, voting to cut ties with Israel, to support one secular democratic state from the river to the sea, and to recognise the right to resist. This is one of a number of wins at USYD. After a sit-in outside Tel Aviv University’s stall at the exchange fair, representatives from Israel sent an email to management saying they would not return to our campus. More recently, after student and staff campaigning at Sydney College of the Arts, the first tie with an Israeli university has been cut. USYD no longer has an exchange program with Bezalel Academy of Art and Design. 

High school students across a number of schools have organised walkouts with support from Teachers for Palestine. Recently, Sheik Wesam, a student support officer who had been forced to work from home after challenging the selective moral outrage over the recent video of two nurses, was reinstated after student protests. 

At the ports, members of the Maritime Union of Australia were on the frontlines blocking cargo from Israeli shipping company ZIM, joined by other unionists, students, and community members. This kind of direct action costs the company money, but also builds strength amongst unions to fight for Palestine. 

We have also seen members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association staunchly speaking out at the picket outside Albanese’s office, condemning his support for genocide. The same money going towards building weapons parts for F35 fighter jets that drop bombs on Gaza could be going towards healthcare and education. 

We must look to all these examples to know there is hope, and together we can win. The fight for Palestine is a fight that everyone must be involved in — the fight against war and imperialism is a fight for a better world for all of us.