Pro-Palestinian protesters and Indigenous advocacy groups have come together to organize rallies in Sydney on January 16. This collaboration may come as a surprise to many Australians, as the pro-Palestinian groups have expressed their support for the Indigenous community while also advancing their own agenda.
The Blak Caucus, a First Nations advocacy group, plans to hold an “Invasion Day” rally at Belmore Park in Sydney on the morning of January 26, with the participation of pro-Palestinian protesters. The purpose of this rally is to demand the abolishment of Australia Day and justice for the Indigenous community.
According to the event page on social media, the organizers have issued a list of nine demands, including ending “the war on black kids,” stopping “black deaths in custody,” and ending “housing and healthcare discrimination” against Indigenous people. Additionally, they have urged the federal and New South Wales (NSW) governments to cut ties with and impose sanctions on “colonial, apartheid Israel.”
The Palestine Action Group Sydney has called on Palestinian supporters in NSW to attend the event. The group has also urged all Palestine supporters to join the protest to stand up to racism and fight for Indigenous liberation in the country.
Another event that has been organized by Indigenous advocacy groups and pro-Palestinian protesters in Sydney on January 26 is the “Palestinian Contingent to the Invasion Day Rally,” jointly organized by the Blak Caucus and Palestine Justice Movement Sydney at Belmore Park. The organizers of this event believe there are similarities between Palestinians and Indigenous people in Australia and that the two communities should support each other in promoting their causes.
The information page of the event reads, “From Gadigal to Gaza: Colonization, occupation, and land theft is a crime. Our collective liberations are intrinsically linked.” Over 100 people have responded to this event, with 78 stating they would attend it.
Despite these efforts, some Indigenous leaders and experts from Melbourne University and a former Liberal politician have expressed concerns and differences of opinion, stating that there are little similarities between the Palestinians and First Nations people. They also highlighted the risk of alienating the Jewish community, who had been supporting Indigenous causes.