No Trade With Apartheid Israel: Boycott ZIM Shipping
On Saturday 25 May 12:00PM, Palestine solidarity groups and Trade Unionists for Palestine held rallies at every port across the country as part of a national day of action. These mass demonstrations are aimed at aiding the Palestinian people against genocide. Israeli military aggression must stop. Boycotting Israeli shipping and goods through Australian ports can affect Israel’s ability to commit massacres and war crimes.
National Day of Action at the Ports
Naarm/Melbourne: Station Pier, Port Melbourne, Boonwurrung Country
Gadigal/Sydney: Port Botany Boat Ramp, Bidjigal Country
Magandjin/Brisbane: 50 Port Dr, Port of Brisbane, Turrbal Country
Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide: Cnr St Vincent St and Commercial Rd, Port Adelaide
Garramilla/Darwin: Parliament House, Larrakia Country
Walyalup/Fremantle: Walyalup Koort (Fremantle Civic Centre), Noongar Country
Nipaluna/Hobart: Davey St, opposite the Grand Chancellor, Muwinina and Palawa Country
Muloobinba/Newcastle: Customs House Plaza (corner of Wharf Rd and Watt St), Awabakal and Worimi Country
Why we are rallying
There is an urgent need for these mass demonstrations at the port. We must intervene to end the genocide and free Palestine. Israel continues with its campaign of death and destruction in Gaza, failing to comply with the International Court of Justice’s orders. The Australian government continues to provide political, economic and military support to Israel. If governments won’t act to end the genocide - the people will!
The call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and to break these ties with apartheid Israel has never been more urgent. The Australian Council of Trade Unions, recently released its strongest statement yet calling for an end to the genocide, including by ending all military trade with Israel.
A successful mass demonstration, backed by key unions and community support, can lay the groundwork for winning broader union support. It can also build political power and support for workers taking action against ZIM, including through taking action like industrial action and bans, to disrupt the genocidal supply chain.
We need to keep the pressure up and build the worker's movement to hold further community pickets targeting ZIM at the docks. A mass rally broadens support for stopping work on ZIM ships and sanctioning trade with Israel.
What are we demanding
To uphold international justice, the national rallies on May 25 demand on shipping companies, and the Australian Federal and State governments:
Shipping companies operating in all Australian ports to declare any trade or cargo with Apartheid Israel.
Impose an arms embargo and trade sanctions on the state of Israel.
State governments to withdraw the charges against MUA and other union officials, and activists advocating for a ceasefire and an end to the genocide in Gaza.
The national day of action is endorsed by:
National
Trade Unionists for Palestine — BDS Australia — Ireland Palestine Solidarity Australia — Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association — Solidarity — MEAA Members for Palestine — Australian Social Workers for Palestine — Friends of the Earth — Professionals Australia for Palestine — Revolutionary Communist Organisation — Communist Party of Australia
NSW
Palestine Justice Movement — Maritime Union of Australia: NSW — NTEU: NSW — Hassan almlaik — PSA for Palestine — Tzedek Collective — Teachers and School Staff for Palestine — Muslim Collective — Socialist Alliance (Sydney) — Families for Palestine — The Greens NSW — UTS Staff for Palestine — Autonomous Collective Against Racism — Unionists for Palestine Newcastle/Muloobinba — NTEU (University of Sydney Branch) — Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine — Paediatricians Without Borders — 3D Art House
Victoria
Free Palestine Melbourne — Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance — National Tertiary Education Union: Victorian Division — Australian Services Union: Vic Private Branch — Free Palestine Coalition Naarm — Loud Jew Collective — Mums For Palestine — Wage Peace/Disrupt Wars — Hue — Friends of the Earth Melbourne — Victorian Socialists — ASU for Palestine — CPSU rank&file 4 Palestine — The Sit Intifada — FILEF-Melbourne — Radical Women — Australian Social Workers for Palestine — Freedom Socialist Party - Australia
South Australia
Australian Friends of Palestine Association — Maritime Union of Australia: South Australia — Anti-Israel Action — Lil-Aqsa Adelaide — Anti-Poverty Network SA — Australian Communist Party — Community Union Defence League — Extinction Rebellion South Australia — Students for Palestine Adelaide — Gaza Solidarity Encampment, University of Adelaide
Queensland
Free Palestine “Australia” — Maritime Union of Australia: Queensland — CFMEU Queensland — Electrical Trades Union: Queensland — Teachers for Palestine Qld — Mums for Palestine Meanjin — Sunny Coast for Palestine — Business Lane
Western Australia
Friends of Palestine WA — Maritime Union of Australia: WA — CFMEU: WA — Palestinian Community of Western Australia — Socialist Alliance WA — Freedom Socialist Party - Australia
Northern Territory
Electrical Trades Union: NT — Palestine Action Group Garramilla — Australians for a Free West Papua - Darwin — Wage Peace/Disrupt Wars — Free Palestine NT — NTUP: Uprising of the people — ASU Action for Palestine — Territorians for Palestine