The clouds kindly stayed away for Byron Bay’s rally as part of the Nationwide Day of Action to mark the 78th anniversary of the Nakba.
The catastrophe
Around 200 people from across the Northern Rivers gathered in Apex park to listen to speakers and join in the march to commemorate the Nakba, a word that means ‘catastrophe’ in Arabic, an event held on or near May 15 each year.
The day remembers when 750,000 refugees from Palestine either fled or were expelled from their homes, many going to refugee camps or neighbouring countries.
People fled for their lives as villages were destroyed and Israelis massacred Palestinians in their thousands.
A child of the Nakba
Convenor of Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine, Palestinian man, and child of the Nakba, Subhi Awad, said the Nakba was not a stand alone moment in history. ‘It was the beginning of a deeply deliberate process that has continued unabated, sustained throughout by the military, financial, and political support of the international community.
‘Nearly 80 years on and that process has reached its most extreme manifestation in genocide. Conservative estimates put the Palestinian death toll in Gaza above 70,000 since October 2023. Yet the systems enabling this violence – across diplomatic, military, economic, and legal dimensions — remain firmly in place within Western governments, including Australia, fully complicit in war crimes,’ said Awad.
Growing public opposition
‘Those same systems are now being turned against the growing public opposition to genocide, in an effort to suppress and silence dissent.’
Speakers on the day included a passionate Welcome from Bundjalung woman and Greens Councillor, Michelle Lowe; felloe Greens Councillor Elia Hauge, who spoke for the need and the rights to protest ‘From The River To The Sea’; Yaegl and Bundjalung performing artist, Mitch King; singer Lucy Gallant; grand-daughter of the Nakba Laura Abboud; daughter of Holocaust survivors Annie Pfingst and musician Jesse Witney.
The energy to stand up for the cause
Palestinian man Waddah Ali said he was full of energy to stand up for this important cause.
‘Maybe the energy I’m having is not because I have it myself, it’s the energy of every child for more than 78 years who’s been screaming to the whole world, “stop the genocide”.
‘This is the energy of every mother, the energy of every father, the energy of every doctor who has informed the whole world, telling the entire world about this battle – to stop the crime in front of our lives.
‘The complicity of our government’
‘Yes, I have the energy, but it’s not my energy. It’s the energy of every mother, father, child, and the energy of every journalist telling the whole world the truth of what’s happening in Palestine, the truth about all the complicity of our government in these crimes,’ he said.
‘Yes, I will have the energy, and I will keep the energy, and I’m gonna keep my bloody dynamo until after I die.
‘We are to survive forever with our unity, with our solidarity, for the justice and peace, for every human being, for every animal, for every plant, for every Jewish person, for every Christian, for every Muslim, for every atheist, for every Buddhist, for everyone,’ said Waddah Ali.
Solidarity
‘Our solidarity is gonna stop it, but now let’s go and have that energy that the Byron Bay people know of this Aboriginal country place, the energy of humanity. Let’s have it, and show the whole world what it means.
‘Our solidarity is for standing for the human beings. Let’s chant altogether for our freedom. Let’s say it sharp. Let’s say it loud and proud. From the river to the sea.’
‘Recognition of Palestine as a state means nothing while our money funds genocide,’ said Mr Awad. ‘Australia’s Future Fund has invested hundreds of millions into companies linked to Israel’s weapons industry and the destruction of Palestinian lives.’
Those gathered then took to the streets of Byron carrying the message of peace and resistance to the people watching. They received loud cheers of support as they marched.
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