Wollongong’s recent Protest for Palestine saw Crown Street Mall fill with protestors demonstrating against the ongoing annexation of Palestinian territories, Israeli occupation, and the human rights violations occurring in Gaza and the West Bank. The rallies highlighted many Illawarra residents’ outrage at the current conditions experienced by Palestinian people.
The Illawarra community will come together again in July to raise funds and show support for Palestine after weeks of forced evictions, violence, and military bombardment.
Students for Palestine have organised a Free Palestine Fundraising Dinner which will take place on Saturday July 3rd from 5:00 pm at Berkeley Neighbourhood Centre. The event will feature traditional Palestinian music, dance and food, as well as speeches from Palestinian community members at home and abroad who will share their experiences and their dreams for a free Palestine. The event will also include a raffle, including an original Redback Graphix ‘The Workplace is No Place for Racism’ poster, a vintage ‘Free Palestine’ hoodie, and a variety of Turkish homewares.
The event will raise funds for two key community organisations in Occupied Palestinian Territories—Adalah Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights, and Gaza Community Mental Health Programme. These organisations have been operating under immense strain over the past few weeks, with very little incoming funding as they contend with military bombardment. "It's important for me to help families and kids who are struggling with their purpose to live over in Gaza,” says Ahmed Albasheer, an event organiser. “Everyone should speak up. They have been occupied for a long time – we should stand up to end the Israel territories on Palestinian land."
The event will take place on unceded Dharrawal and Yuin country and will include a Welcome to Country. Berkeley Neighbourhood Centre’s hall is a wheelchair accessible space with disabled toilet facilities and disabled parking spots.
Everyone is very welcome to join in on the afternoon and show those oppressed in Palestine that we care over here and that this injustice is not acceptable. "Palestinian people have been defending their land against the most cruel army of apartheid for over 70 years,” says Noor Jarbou, another organiser of the event.
For more information, please go to the Students for Palestine – Wollongong Uni Facebook page.
