Banned … ‘From the river to the sea’

The children of the stones
have scattered our papers
spilled ink on our clothes
mocked the banality of old texts…

The Lord Mayor of the largest local government council in the world, Brisbane Magan-djin, has just withdrawn funding from Queensland Music Awards because it has given an award to this instrumental From the river to the sea in the jazz music category.

Only 18 months ago, the Liberal National Party Mayor of Brisbane and graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra, Adrian Schrinner, ordered that Brisbane’s iconic Storey Bridge be lit up with Israeli colours: “Brisbane’s thoughts and prayers are with Israel”, he said.

Justice for Palestine Magan-djin had this to say:

Justice for Palestine condemns the decision of the Brisbane City Council to remove funding from Qmusic – which supports a diverse range of musicians. We stand in solidarity with all musicians and artists and their right to artistic freedom.

Recent attempts to silence First Nations artists and academics who create and speak in support of Palestine is a threat to a vibrant and diverse art scene and a society grounded in Freedom.

We will not be silenced, from the river to the sea, free Palestine 🇵🇸