On Monday June 24, City of Sydney for Palestine (CoS4P) held a rally outside Town Hall, prior to a City of Sydney Council meeting. Councillors were to debate a motion instituting a review into local councils’ investment into companies deemed complicit in Israel’s occupation and genocide in Palestine.
City of Sydney had previously drafted a model Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) motion for all councillors a month ago and sent it to them all. Greens City of Sydney councillor Sylvie Ellsmore subsequently wrote a distinct motion to the CoS4P motion and put it forward, with Independent councillor from Wiradjuri country Yvonne Weldon seconding the motion.
Ash Phthalo chaired the rally, while Carolyn lenna gave the Acknowledgement of Country.
Markela Panegyres of the USyd National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) branch began by speaking to the importance of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) schemes called for by Palestinian civil society since the founding of BDS in 2005.
Panegyres spoke to the first successful BDS motion at any NTEU branch across Australia. She reiterated how a mass meeting can only happen through the mobilisation of workers, including staff members who joined the union to advocate for Palestine.
She stated that despite dismissal of the motion by university management, it is clear “how important Palestinian liberation is at the University of Sydney”. Panegyres then called upon the rally to demand that the City of Sydney council implement BDS.
Greens City of Sydney councillor Sylvie Ellsmore said that an existing policy in place at the council preventing investment in companies that profit from armament and human rights abuses should apply for Palestine as well.
Ellsmore then stated that if a motion of support for BDS is passed, it would be the biggest council decision across Australia. She also referred to the council’s use of Hewlett-Packard for its printing services, which supports the Israel Defence Forces in maintaining the occupation.
Ellsmore concluded that the meeting happened because of the ongoing support of the community on the streets, and that will continue regardless of the result.
Ahmad Abadla, Palestinian activist at Palestine Justice Movement spoke about the massacres inflicted by “the Zionist entity”, saying “can you believe people are opposing a ceasefire?” He reiterated that “Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions work”.
Inner West (Ashfield) Local Councillor Dylan Griffiths spoke about his experience implementing BDS at a local level. He explained how part of the City of Sydney’s commitment to supporting refugees should include Palestinians arriving from Gaza.
Addressing counterarguments to BDS, and the idea that “Palestine is not a local council issue,” Griffiths explained that “BDS is about how your money is used.” He noted that it is intertwined with council “rates” and that the use of council finances must be governed, thereby solidifying BDS as an actionable stance for local government.
Discussing the alleged ‘radical’ nature of BDS, he asked: “Is it radical to meet our obligations under the Genocide Convention?” contending that BDS is not divisive, and rather represents the values of many people in the Inner West and beyond.
Rachel Evans of the Socialist Alliance and Lord Mayor candidate for City of Sydney was the final speaker, emphasising that this push for BDS “won’t stop at a disclose motion” given that the “Sydney council is one of the richest councils in the country with $800 million in their account.” Evans also spoke to the Meri Bek council as a successful example where a boycott and divest motion was passed, and $10,000 gathered for refugees from Gaza, stating that the City of Sydney council should do the same.
Bike riders from the Gaza Sunbird Sydney-Gadigal solidarity group then rode around the Town Hall, surrounding it with a Palestinian flag as the meeting was in session.
