Palestine

On September the 14th VS West members took part in the Solidarity Cup for Palestine at Selwyn park, Albion.  The solidarity event and fundraiser was organized by a collective of organisations in Melbourne's west, including Community Soccer Hub, Brimbank for Palestine, Maribyrnong for Palestine, Hobson Bay for Palestine, Wyndham for Palestine and Melton for Palestine.

Israel is invading Lebanon. No, it’s not 2006, 1982 or 1978, its 2024 and we are 51 weeks into Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Israeli state, hungry for even more war and emboldened by support from countries like the US and Australian has turned its eyes on Lebanon, for the fourth time in the last 45 years. 

On September the 11th, Victorian Socialist candidates and members were part of the Disrupt Land-Forces Conference rally at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. 

On the 27th of July Victorian Socialist members held a secondhand book sale to raise money for the Ni’lin Popular Committee. Our book sale was hosted with Red Flag Books at our shared space at 83 Sydney Road, Brunswick.

Early on Thursday morning 28 June a community picket took place to stop work at the Thomastown factory of Electromold. The picket kicked off a new wing of the campaign against Melbourne-based weapons manufacturers who profit from supplying the tools for Israel’s genocide.

On Saturday June 15 more than 60 people from the Maribyrnong community came to our launch to hear from VS candidates Jorge Jorquera and Catherine Robertson. Jorge shared some of Victorian Socialists’ achievements on Council over the past four years – including the successful Palestine solidarity motion, work in support of public and community housing, fighting to save Footscray Park and McIvor Reserve, and more.

On the 15th of June hundreds attended a protest parade organized by Darebin for Palestine. The rally started in Preston marching along High st to Northcote, stopping off at the offices of labor MPs Nathan Lambert, Ged Kearney and Kat Theophanous. 

The rally was calling on the state and federal governments to stop arming genocide, to cut ties with Israel and to stand with Palestinians. 

Lucas Moore, Victoria Socialist candidate for Olympia ward in Banyule Council, spoke to a crowd of thousands at the Melbourne Free Palestine rally on June 9 – week 35 of Israel’s onslaught, and of the protests. 

Victorian Socialist members took part in a community event out the front of Andrew Giles office in Thomastown on 31 May, as part of a national day of action against Labor MPs complicit in genocide. 

So what has the Andrew Giles, Labor’s Immigration Minister done whilst Palestinians experience genocide in Gaza? Surely it’s not all bad? Humanitarian visas you might think? 

Local residents rallied at the Nillumbik Council offices in Greensborough on 28 May, calling on the Council to stand in solidarity with Palestinians as they face genocide in Gaza. Victorian Socialist members including Lucas Moore, candidate for Olympia ward in Banyule Council, attended the rally and spoke.