Protest Against George Pell Funeral

A small but passionate group consisting of members from the LGBTQIA+ community, Socialists, victims of child sexual abuse, and concerned citizens gathered today at Hyde Park, opposite St Mary’s Cathedral, to protest the funeral of George Pell.

Pell was a divisive, arch-conservative figure of the Catholic Church during his life time, who spoke out against homosexuality, same-sex marriage, divorce and abortion, and was eventually exonerated of child sex offences by the High Court of Australia after spending 13 months in jail.

Today’s protest was mostly peaceful but momentarily became heated when protesters and a group of Catholic worshippers verbally clashed outside the Cathedral. A large police presence was on hand to keep the two parties apart. The protesters marched up College Street, along Oxford Street and then to Taylor Square, where final speeches were given.

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Invasion Day 2023

Photographs of Invasion Day, Gadigal, 2023.

Thousands turned out yesterday to mark 235 years since the First Fleet sailed into what is now known as Sydney Harbour to set up the Australian colony.. The rally started at Belmore Park, where speakers spoke out against colonisation and urged those in attendance to vote ‘No’ at the upcoming referendum on ‘The Voice’.

The crowd then marched to Victoria Park, down Broadway, to join the annual Yabun event where music and other performances, including the Buuja Buuja Butterfly dancers, saw out the day.

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Vigil: Awaken, Sydney Festival

Photographs of Bangarra’s Vigil: Awaken at Barangaroo, Gadigal country, on the eve of Invasion Day.

The multi-media performance was a tribute to Me-Mel (Goat Island), which sits in the Harbour and was the backdrop for tonight’s event. It was created by Jacob Nash and Stephen Page, with Welcome to Country performed by Yvonne Weldon.

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Darigan

Choreographer and dancer, Darigan Lima Bundjalung-Juru, at Babinda, Far North Queensland.

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Repeal Anti-Protest Laws Rally

Photographs from today’s rally at Sydney Town Hall, where protestors spoke out against the recent ‘anti-protest laws’ that were passed by NSW Parliament earlier this year. Speakers included several climate activists who have been targeted by these laws and as a result, faced with stiff terms of imprisonment and hefty fines.

After speeches, around 150 people marched from Town Hall to NSW Parliament, escorted by a heavy police presence.

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Aboriginal and Jewish Solidarity on Human Rights Day

Last Friday, on the eve of International Human Rights Day, a small group of Aboriginal and Jewish people came together to commemorate the 84th anniversary of the call to support Jewish people against Nazism by Yorta Yorta man, William Cooper.

On the 6th of December, 1938, William Cooper, led a delegation of the Australian Aborigines’ League to the German consulate in Melbourne, to deliver a letter to the German government, which in part read:

“On behalf of the Aboriginal inhabitants of Australia, we wish to have it registered and on record that we protest wholeheartedly at the cruel persecution of the Jewish people by the Nazi government in Germany. We plead that you would make it known to your government and its military leaders that this cruel persecution of their fellow citizens must be brought to an end.”

The delegation was not received by the consulate and the letter never delivered to the German government. The march on the consulate was the only significant contemporaneous act of opposition of its kind in the world, against what became known ‘Kristallnacht’, the first Nazi pogrom against the Jews in Germany. Over 90 people murdered that night and 7,000 Jewish businesses ruined. Kristallnacht ultimately signalled the beginning of the Holocaust which saw an estimated six million Jews killed.

William Cooper’s 1938 protest in Melbourne happened during a time when his own people were facing their own genocide. It was an incredible demonstration of compassion and human rights in an environment where none had been shown to him or his people, since the time of colonisation.

Last week’s commemoration in Sydney saw about 20 people walk from Redfern to Darlington, and then on to the Newtown Synagogue, where Rabbi Eli Feldman led a Shabbat service, acknowledging the contribution William Cooper had made to the Jewish community. Present were William Cooper’s great granddaughter, Aunty Barbara Mcdonogh and great-great-grandson, Michael McDonogh. The service was followed by kiddush, dinner and speeches.

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Free Violet Coco - Anti-Protest Laws Rally

More than one hundred people turned up to Downing Street Local Court this morning, to protest against the jailing of climate activist, Violet Coco, and to demand the repeal of draconian anti-protest legislation which passed NSW Parliament earlier this year, with the support of the Coalition government and the opposition Labor party.

Concerned citizens, activists and unionists today expressed outrage at the laws which see people disrupting economic activity (including walking on the road) faced with a possible 2 year jail sentence and up to a $22,000 fine. Climate activists have been particularly targeted by authorities, but all unauthorised protest activity is at stake.

Deanna ‘Violet’ Coco was arrested earlier this year for blocking one lane of traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge for 24 minutes and lighting a flare. She was last week sentenced to 15 months in prison and a $2,500 fine.

Today’s hearing for a bail application to appeal was heard at the court. The outcome will be handed down today*. At least a dozen other climate activists are currently facing similar punishment under these new laws.

UPDATE: Violet Coco was granted conditional bail, to report to police weekly. Her appeal will be held in March next year.

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Rally Against the Iranian Regime

Thousands turned out on Saturday in Sydney to rally against the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the recent killings of protesters there. Last Thursday, activist, Mohsen Shekari was reportedly executed by hanging for participating in the mass demonstrations sweeping throughout the country.

The latest wave of civil unrest was initially sparked by the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini in September at the hands of the so-called ‘Morality Police’ for not wearing her hijab correctly. The Australian Government last week announced sanctions against those in the Iranian regime, particularly targeting the Morality Police.

The march in Sydney started at Belmore park and proceeded through the city to Hyde Park. It coincided with International Human Rights Day.

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Justice or Justus? International Day of Human Rights

Photographs from last night’s event, ‘Is there Justice? Or Justus?’, a night of panel discussion, spoken word and music held at the Red Rattler in Marrickville.

Held on the International Day of Human Rights, speakers included Aunty Jenny Munro, Lizzy Jarrett (moderator and organiser), Paul Silva, Ethan Lyon, Fahad Ali, Gloria Tabi, Yusra Metwally, Ms Saffaa, Paddy Gibson and Felon.

Spoken word performances were MC’d by Kween G and featured Lizzy Jarrett, Saba Vasefi, Hani Abdile and Nawoola Loonmi Miriwoong, with the night capped off with reggae vibes from The Ragga Army

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Children's Naming Day, Gimuy, Cairns, Yidindji

Images from the Children’s Naming Day ceremony held last Saturday in Gimuy, Cairns, Yidindji.

Yidindji man, Carl Fourmile, said the historic event was the first public, open community children’s naming ceremony held since the practice was forced underground, into small private family ceremonies when Europeans started colonising the area around 150 years ago.

Important local tribal elders were present during the ceremony.

Performers included Bulkaway Muruku, Miriki, Wawumun, Linton Schrieber, Victor Steffensen, Gimuy Walubara Yidinydji, Gungganydji, Djumburru Nyiwul Djabuganydj, Maluilgal and Minjil.

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Victor Steffensen

Portrait of Victor Steffensen, co-founder and advisor to the Board of Firesticks, an Indigenous led network that aims to re-invigorate the use of cultural burning by facilitating cultural learning pathways to fire and land management.

Shot in Gimuy, Cairns, Yidindji country.

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Gun Breaking on Yidindji

On Sunday, Yidindji police destroyed a number of firearms that were surrendered by citizens during a gun amnesty on Yidindji. The weapons included two .22 calibre rifles and a .32 calibre pistol. The destruction of the guns was overseen by Yidindji Police Minister, Bumi Gimuybara and was aimed at keeping Yidindji citizens safe.

The Sovereign Yidindji Government has set up a nationhood with its own block-chained currency, legal structure and administrative system in a practical proposition and response to First Nations sovereignty.

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Shag on a Rock

A lone pied shag, also known as a common pied cormorant, sits on a boulder at Babinda in Far North Queensland.

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Djabugay Dancers

Portraits of the Djabugay Dancers (Djumburru Nyiwul Djabuganydj) at a Children’s Naming Ceremony, Cairns, Gimuy, Yidindji.

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Sovereign Yidindji Government Close Borders

The Sovereign Yidindji Government temporarily closed their borders last night at the Cairns airport in a symbolic move to enforce its territorial borders. Other synchronised closures were simultaneously performed at 12 midnight at sea borders to the east and land borders to the north, south and west.

The Sovereign Yidindji Government has set up a nationhood with its own block-chained currency, legal structure and administrative system in a practical proposition and response to First Nations sovereignty.

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Cassius Turvey Vigil, Gadigal

Yesterday, thousands of people turned up to vigils around Australia to commemorate the death of 15-year old Noongar-Yamiji boy, Cassius Turvey, who died after allegedly being beaten to death on his way home from school in Perth, in what many say was a racially motivated murder and hate crime.

Around 3-5,000 people turned up to Sydney Town Hall, Gadigal, where a candle-light vigil was held. Members of Cassius’ family were present and were amongst speakers who called for an end to the continuing violence against Aboriginal people.

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Women Life Freedom - Rally for Iran

Photographs of the latest protest rally in Sydney calling for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic in Iran after Kurdish Iranian woman, Jina Mahsa Amini, died in custody after being arrested by the state-run ‘morality police’ for allegedly not wearing her hijab correctly.

This weekend marks one month since Amin’s death.

Protests around the world - and throughout Iran - continue amid reports that oil refinery workers in Iran have gone on strike, along side universities and students.

Over chants of ‘Women, Life, Freedom!’, speakers at yesterday’s rally in Martin Place urged Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, to cut ties with the Iranian regime. Actors played out a theatrical performance, symbolising the violence of Iranian police and the current uprising of women across the country.

More protests are expected.

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Time Has Come - Protest Against the Femicide of Jina Mahsa Amini

Yesterday, a passionate crowd of about 5,000 people turned up at Belmore Park in Sydney’s CBD to protest against the femicide of 22-year old Jina Mahsa Amini, who was reportedly killed on the 16th of September in the north-western Iranian city of Saqez by the so called ‘Morality Police’. Amini was arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly, according to Islamic law in Iran. Her death has sparked outrage and protests across the globe, including in Iran, where scores of protesters have subsequently been killed. There are also reports that the Internet has been shut down, or dramatically curtailed across Iran.

Speakers at yesterday’s rally called for the ousting of the extremist Islamic regime in Iran, and pressed the Australian government and the global community to do more to ensure women’s rights in Iran are protected. The rally finished with several women symbolically cutting their hair. It was one of many protests held yesterday across Australia and around the world.

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Protest Against the Femicide of Mahsa Amini

Protesters gathered yesterday at Sydney Town Hall, Gadigal, to rally against the femicide of Mahsa Amini, whose death at the hands of Iran’s ‘Morality Police’ has caused worldwide outrage.

Witnesses say that Amini was detained and then beaten to death by police on the 16th of September for allegedly not wearing a hijab in public. Iran has a strict dress code for women which is enforced by the state run Guidance Patrol, also known as the ‘Morality Police’.

Several large protests have broken out across Iran, with thousands taking to the streets and women burning hijabs. Multiple deaths by state police have been reported, with further unrest expected.

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