More than 20 people were arrested in Brisbane over the weekend during protests against new Queensland laws that ban the phrases “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada”. The laws carry a maximum sentence of two years in jail.
Pro-Palestinian activists have vowed to challenge the legislation in the High Court, arguing it is an invalid law under the Australian constitution. Justice for Palestine Magan-djin spokesperson Remah Naji said legal experts are coordinating a challenge, describing the laws as “absurd” and “dangerous”.
On Saturday, 20 people were arrested for reciting or displaying the banned expression. Two more were arrested on Sunday during a march on Parliament House. In one incident, a protester led a chant with the words “from the river to the sea” and was promptly arrested, while those responding with “Palestine will be free” were not.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli defended the laws, saying they strike a balance and that the phrases amount to a call for genocide. He rejected claims of cracking down on free speech, stating people can still speak strongly about Gaza and freedom for Palestine.
The protests remained peaceful despite a heavy police presence. Activists say they will continue to protest and fight for Palestine, with one arrested protester, Ella Gutteridge, expressing rage at the government's actions.
