Hundreds attend Kath & Kim-themed pro-Palestine fun run protesting Queensland hate speech laws

More than 200 Palestine supporters have dressed up in Kath and Kim-inspired activewear for a Brisbane fun run, with some risking arrest to raise funds for a High Court challenge to Queensland’s hate speech laws.

A number of participants donned running bibs that featured the phrase “from the river to the sea”, one of two expressions declared prohibited by the Crisafulli government earlier this year.

Organisers said the event was a “creative act of defiance” against “censorship and the criminalisation” of Palestine solidarity in Queensland.

“These stupid laws won’t stop people calling for equality and freedom, between the river and the sea,” said Remah Naji, one of the fun run organisers.

“They ban speech and dissent. We walk, run, stroll and have fun while defending our right to protest in the streets and in court.”

While police were in attendance, no-one was taken into custody.

The Queensland Government drew criticism in March after making an eleventh-hour change to its hate speech legislation to specifically ban the use of two phrases, “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada”.

The expressions are used by some to show solidarity with Palestine.

‘From the river to the sea’ refers to the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, and can be interpreted in vastly different ways.

“Our government acknowledges Israel recently kidnapped, tortured and raped Australians for trying to provide aid to children,” said 63-year-old fun run participant Jacquie, who didn’t give her last name.

“The LNP’s obsessional focus on cancelling words is a threat to free speech that must be challenged.

“I hope the LNP chooses to focus on real crime rather than arrest me for expressing dissent of apartheid and genocide.”

The colourful event followed last month’s Farnsey Flash Mob, which saw hundreds of people dress up as John Farnham and sang his 1988 hit, Two Strong Hearts, which contains a lyric similar to one of the prohibited expressions.

No one was arrested at either event but organisers say 26 people have faced police action since the laws came into effect for displaying or reciting the outlawed phrases.

“In a bid to satisfy a foreign lobby, our deeply complicit government has underestimated how far Queenslanders are willing to go to defend the right to speak up freely about genocide and apartheid,” said Ms Naji.

Nick Everett from Friends of Palestine WA said the turnout over the weekend reflected growing concerns about restrictions on pro-Palestine expression.

“We’re sending a message to the Queensland government – and all governments – that people across Australia reject this dangerous political oppression,” he said.

“The idea that uttering words of solidarity with Palestine could earn you two years in prison is unacceptable to all of us, from the west to the east.”