Darebin Council reponds to community call to stand with Palestine

Excellent result in Darebin Council on Monday evening 18th of December, where community pressure forced the Labor and Greens councillors to vote in favour of a strong pro-Palestine motion put forward by Councillor Greco, modelled on similar motions passed by socialist councillors in Maribyrnong and Merri-bek. Darebin for Palestine organised a rally immediately prior to the council meeting.

About 100 locals gathered to demand the council stand in solidarity with Palestine. Victorian Socialist member and, Darebin for Palestine Activist Jaan Schild was among the speakers who spoke alongside Gazan nurse activist Riyadh Akadassi, Councillor Gateano Greco and a number of current and former darebin residents of Palestinian, Jewish, Muslim and other heritages.

It's great to see the movement for Palestine compelling more councils committing to raising the Palestinian flag and standing against the Israeli apartheid. Congratulations to Councillor Greco and the local activists who organised the protest outside and inside the council meeting.

Those of us in the room were shocked by the behaviour of Darebin Greens mayor Suzanne Newton, who delayed and deferred the motion in an attempt to run out the clock on the council meeting despite the room being filled with Darebin community members who had attended to hear whether our local councillors would support Palestine. After five hours, the motion was finally put with 5 minutes to spare, well after 10pm! This is a reminder that protest works, and an encouraging step in building the ongoing mass movement for Palestine.