Grace Tame Defends Rally Chants Amid NSW Government Hate Speech Condemnation
Activist and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame has stated she does not advocate for violence or hatred of any kind, following her participation in an anti-Israel protest in Sydney where she chanted phrases the NSW Government has described as hate speech. The 31-year-old addressed a crowd of approximately 5,000 people on the steps of Town Hall on Monday evening, calling Israeli President Isaac Herzog a war criminal and inciter of genocide, while labelling Israel a fascist state.
Controversial Chants Spark Political Fury
Tame led the crowd in chanting “from Gadigal to Gaza, globalise the intifada” and also used the phrase “from the river to the sea.” Both expressions have been condemned by Jewish advocates as anti-Semitic and calling for the erasure of Israel. Her words ignited fury among politicians and some community members, who demanded her 2021 Australian of the Year title be revoked.
In a video posted to Instagram on Wednesday, Tame argued that Australia’s politicians and media are attempting to “distract the masses” from the violence Israel is perpetrating against Palestinians by focusing on her rally statements. She defended her use of the word intifada, stating its definition is “shaking off.” “Disingenuously distorting definitions has been a cornerstone of Israel’s propaganda strategy for decades,” Tame asserted.
NSW Government Plans New Hate Speech Laws
Intifada does indeed mean “shaking off” in Arabic and refers to two violent Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation in 1987 and 2000. Following the Bondi Beach terror attack, the NSW Government announced plans to introduce stringent new laws banning hateful symbols and slogans. The government specifically cited the chant “globalise the intifada” as hate speech that encourages violence within the community.
“This chant will be banned alongside other hateful statements used to vilify and intimidate our community,” the government declared. Tame countered by criticising the police actions at Monday’s rally as an “overreach of state powers,” after violence erupted with fists thrown and pepper spray deployed by officers clashing with protesters.
Protest Violence and Social Cohesion Debate
Police reported no serious injuries, but the Palestine Action Group denounced what it called a “brutal attack” against “peaceful” protesters. Tame questioned the focus on dissent, asking, “Our leaders go on about social cohesion. What’s a better example of social cohesion than tens of thousands of people from many and diverse backgrounds gathering united in the pursuit of humanity?”
She urged the political and media classes to “prosecute the state of Israel and not focus on the individual dissidents and people fighting for justice and humanity.” In the caption of her video, Tame explicitly stated she does not advocate for violence, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, or any form of hatred.
Melbourne Prepares for Further Protests
Meanwhile, police in Victoria are preparing for a large protest in Melbourne’s CBD on Thursday afternoon as President Herzog visits the city. Crowds plan to gather outside Flinders Street Station at 5 pm, with police granted special powers under the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act to manage the event. This marks only the fifth time such powers have been designated since 2006.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill emphasised, “Significant planning has been undertaken and a number of police, including a range of specialist resources, will be dedicated to the event to ensure the highest level of safety and security for all involved.” He added that while there is no specific threat intelligence, authorities are well-prepared with adequate resources for an agile response to any incidents.
