Gov’t spends on fuelling housing crisis rather than fixing it
This post was originally published on Green Left – For ecosocialist action.
Supporters of democracy and international law joined Hands off Venezuela! protests across Australia over January 4–5 to demand the United States government immediately stop its attacks on Venezuela and that the Australian government condemns the US’ blatant violation of rules-based order.
Peter Boyle reports from Gadigal Country/Sydney that about 500 people defied a 14-day “ban on protests” to denounce the United States Trump Administration’s illegal military assault on Venezuela and the kidnapping of its president and his partner.
NSW Labor imposed an undemocratic anti-protest law on December 24, after the Bondi shootings.
The large police presence at Sydney Town Hall on Gadigal Country included mounted police and a helicopter that hovered directly above the rally — almost drowning out the speeches.
At one stage a protester was arrested because she was wearing a T-shirt that bore the slogan “Globalise the intifada”. Police claimed that this was illegal, but later on released her without charge.
One of the rally organisers, Rachel Evans, immediately informed the crowd which started chanting: “Long live the intifada!”
A tiny pro-Trump counter protest took place nearby, and several attempts by some of its participants to disrupt the Venezuela solidarity action failed.
Elias Boyle reports that 200 people rallied at short notice in Magan-djin/Brisbane on January 4 to demand the US cease its attacks respect international law.
Sarah Hathway reports that 40 people turned up to a snap protest outside defence minister Richard Marles’ office in Djilang/Geelong on January 5.
Similar snap protests were held in six other cities around Australia.
