“Don’t Deny This Holocaust,” reads protestors’ sign during Palestinian Prisoner Day commemoration rally.

by

Michael Johnstone
2–3 minutes

On Sunday April 19 thousands marched through the streets of Naarm/Melbourne, Australia as part of international protests commemorating Palestinian Prisoner Day, which officialy falls on April 17 each year.

This year held particular significance following the passing of new laws in Israel, lowering barriers to the state sanctioned killing of Palestinians found guilty in a legal system that breaches Palestinians’ right to due process. (link)

The new laws have drawn widespread international criticism, including notably from the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner who released a statement earlier in April saying:

“We condemn the Knesset’s adoption of this law and call for its immediate repeal,” the experts said. “This law marks a grave escalation in Israel’s discriminatory oppression of Palestinians.” (link)

Photo coverage of the rally in Naarm/Melbourne Australia can be found below, you can also view a video of the speakers (link) by Free Palestine Melbourne.

Protestors write the phrase ‘Free Palestine’ on the curb of a busy tram stop in from of the Victorian State Library. (Photo: Michael Johnstone)
Mai Saif seen here was one of seven speakers who addressed the crowds.
Drummers prepare to lead the rally as speeches finish and the march spills off the State Library lawn onto Swanston St.
People gather on Swanston St near the Victorian State Library before marching through the city.
A protestor leads the crowd in chants as they begin the march down Swanston St through the city.
As the rally moves through the city some leave behind messages. This message in full read ‘Resistance is justified when people are occupied’.
A protestor holds Lebanon and Palestinian flags and a sign reading ‘Stop the execution of Palestinian Prisoners’.
Many bystanders took the opportunity to film or photograph the rally as it passed by.
Traffic was stopped while the rally moved through the city
The rally followed their pre-organised path from the Victorian State Library following Swanston St and Bourks St to the Victorian Parliament. Here the police stand ready to block any traffic from entering Bourke St.
Protestors paused the march at the intersection of Bourke St and Exhibition St to perform more chants before continuing to the Victorian Parliament.
A line of police prevented traffic from entering Bourke St as the rally passed.
Noura Mansour speaks the to rally from the steps of the Victorian State Parliament.
A couple view the rally gathered below from the stop stairs to the building.

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