Dunedin for Justice in Palestine is sending a solidarity cohort to Auckland to participate in Aotearoa for Palestine’s upcoming action: March for Humanity. The action, inspired by the march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge which attracted hundreds of thousands of supporters, has been called to demand meaningful action from the New Zealand government in the form of sanctions on Israel, in response to Israel’s genocidal assault on the Palestinian people.
Organisers with Dunedin for Justice in Palestine assert that the mass death being broadcast to the world every day can only be restrained by cutting off the flows of resources which power Israel’s arms industry and pay for other imported weapons of war.
The Ōtepoti contingent includes local Palestinian-Kiwis, Israeli-Kiwis and Jewish Kiwis.
“This is the least I could be doing,” says Palestinian-New Zealander Rinad Tamimi. “I want my daughter to grow up and look back at which side of history I brought her up in, the side of humanity, as my mother did for me. I also want to be with others who share our values of humanity, and make New Zealand history together this weekend.”
A powerful solidarity has been fostered between Palestinians and tangata whenua here in Aotearoa. As part of our solidarity, Dunedin for Justice in Palestine also acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonisation here in Aotearoa and mana whenua whose histories and struggles are inseparable from any justice movement on these lands.
Kelly Campbell shares, “As Tangata Whenua, I stand in kotahitanga with all my indigenous brothers and sisters, including Palestinians who have been colonised and dispossessed since 1948 and beyond. This genocide is all about greed and profit. People are killed and land and resources are stolen to benefit only the wealthy and powerful. A mass movement of people power can speak up for the voiceless and fight for all humanity – all of which are deserving of safety and freedom.”
Some of Dunedin’s own Israeli-Kiwi citizens have also affirmed their support for Palestinian freedom from oppression: “As Israeli New Zealanders with dual citizenship we march with our Palestinian whānau to call for urgent action using all necessary measures to immediately stop Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people,” say May and Rod Pik.
Others who are making the journey feel that their values and upbringing compel them to stand against injustice. Lisa Levitt says “I am a Jewish Kiwi who has spent much of her life in Dunedin. I was raised in a Jewish tradition that supports social justice and believe that there should never again be a genocide for anyone anywhere in the world. My husband Paul and I will be attending the Auckland march this coming weekend to stand in solidarity with our Palestinian whānau and to encourage our government to take a stand against genocide and starvation.”
Among those standing with Palestine in Dunedin, there is a consensus that the New Zealand government is failing to uphold its obligations to prevent genocide under the Rome Statute, and that successive governments have failed to assert the rights of Palestinians under illegal military occupation.
“I want to show my solidarity with the Palestinian people and all other indigenous peoples who have suffered or continue to suffer at the hands of their colonisers. I want to show up to send a message to our gutless government and all the previous gutless governments that we need to stand up and say no to these human rights atrocities,” asserts David Grimmett.
The depth of passion, anger, and indeed exhaustion from the representatives of Dunedin for Justice in Palestine is reflective of the years work undertaken to challenge the state of Israel’s impunity as it flagrantly violates international law and slaughters civilians on a massive scale, with the backing of the United States of America. Some of those who are making the trip to Auckland have been speaking up for Palestine for decades, and vow to speak, act, and organise until Palestinians are free from illegal occupation.