Pro-Palestine protests continue in Melbourne streets as Israel resumes attacks

ABC NEWS (Australia)

After weeks away, Melbourne’s pro-Palestine protests returned to the CBD with thousands taking to the streets. Rally-goers have vowed to continue protesting until a permanent ceasefire is reached.

Transcript

00:00Pro-Palestinian protesters back on Melbourne streets, and in large numbers, after hopes

00:15for an extended ceasefire were shattered.

00:18We're here out of anger at the same time, and sadness, so all these feelings, you know,

00:23so I think that's why there's a lot of turnouts.

00:26It's good to be back with such a lot of people.

00:29It shows that people are really seeing and understanding the horrors of what's going

00:34on in Palestine.

00:36Thousands gathering at the State Library before marching through the CBD, protesting against

00:41Israel's resumption of airstrikes across Gaza.

00:44It's a strong message to government that we don't want to be supporting that from here

00:49in Australia and here in Victoria.

00:51It's the first protest since Melbourne's weekly pro-Palestinian rallies became monthly,

00:56following 70 straight weeks of demonstrations.

00:59It's past time for our country to listen to these protesters and say no more.

01:03We're going to need to cease military ties with Israel, we need to cease two-way trade.

01:07And it wasn't the only rally today.

01:09Earlier, dozens of Victorian teachers protested outside the Department of Education.

01:14Free, free Palestine!

01:15Free, free Palestine!

01:17Accusing the Victorian government of attempting to silence support for Palestine in schools.

01:22Teachers have been intimidated in really serious ways.

01:27Some teachers were stood down for months at a time.

01:30While it's clear that pro-Palestinian protesters have returned to Melbourne's CBD more energised

01:35than ever, and with no permanent ceasefire in sight, it's looking like these protests

01:40won't be ending any time soon.

01:42Until something changes, until the conflict ends, then I think yes, everybody here will

01:50continue fighting.

01:51A small group of Israel supporters were moved on by police just before the pro-Palestinian

01:56protest started.

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