Pro-Palestine protesters have climbed the roof of Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra and unfurled several banners, one of them reading, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
The demonstration at the national parliament on Thursday followed recent divisions within Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government, which suspended a Muslim Senator who crossed the floor to vote in favour of Australia recognising a Palestinian state.
Four people from the Renegade Activists group, dressed in dark clothing, stood on the roof of the building for about an hour, rolling out several large black and white banners, including one reading, “No peace on stolen land”.
One of the protesters gave a speech using a megaphone accusing the Israeli government of “war crimes” in Gaza with the support of the United States, and the Australian government of being complicit in the alleged abuses.
“We declare to the Australian government we will continue to unmask and resist the US imperial, hegemonic and capitalist interests you devote yourself to,” the protester yelled.
“Australia continues to enable and commit war crimes as lackeys to our ‘great and powerful’ friends.”
A handful of police and security advised people not to walk directly under the protest at the main entrance to the building, while more were seen on the roof attempting to remove the group.