Interview: Decolonization here is how we can best support the Palestinian struggle

Interview with Les Indigènes de la République

How was the struggle organized from the start of the genocide in Gaza ? What were its goals, strengths, contradictions and adversity? Has the struggle already evolved, and if so, what changes?

Since October 7th, we have been protesting weekly in so-called Melbourne, at a set time and place – 12 pm in front of The State Library of Victoria. The protests are hosted under the collective Free Palestine Melbourne but they are organised by a flexible group of mainly Palestinian organisers from different organisations or unaffiliated. Palestinians who have committed to join the struggle in the past five months have been invited to join this rally organising team, which has added strength to the movement work.

It has been challenging to maintain the radical objectives of mass protests as political leaders and media turn attention away from the Free Palestine marches despite the presence of thousands on the streets. To overcome this, at the protests, we have directed supporters to initiate liberatory actions throughout the week, which have resulted in action in five main areas: campus activism, local council change, union movement work, picketing Zim shipping and shutting down arms factories. In one local council area the organising of residents and activists led to the council raising the Palestine flag and passing a Boycott Divestment Sanctions motion. This inspired a flow of local groups forming to campaign for similar local council motions, with over 15 new groups working towards this across Melbourne and even regionally. At university students such as the world-recognised University of Melbourne students have been organising against its millions partnership with Lockheed Martin.

Meanwhile school students have held the largest school walk-out for Palestine in the world. Unionists for Palestine has organised a number of community pickets that have delayed or interrupted the operations of Zim ships in Port Melbourne. One of these unionist community pickets became historic in imposing a four-day land blockade of the port terminal, achieved with the co-leadership of Palestine solidarity groups, leftist groups and the Black People’s Union.