Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has cancelled a pro-Palestine forum titled “Why it is right to say Globalise the Intifada?” that was due to be held at the East Sydney Community Arts Centre on Tuesday night.
The event had been organised by the activist group Stop The War On Palestine and was scheduled to take place in a City of Sydney-owned venue. The move comes after significant pressure to cancel the event, including from media and NSW Premier Chris Minns.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Moore said she had directed the City of Sydney chief executive to cancel the booking amid concerns about public safety and social cohesion.
“I have long supported the principles of peaceful assembly, protest and freedom of speech,” Moore wrote.
“However, these rights must always be balanced with a responsibility to ensure public safety and respect for all members of our diverse community.”
Moore said the decision came during “heightened anxiety and division” and coincided with the opening hearings of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in Australia. She said it was “essential that public events do not contribute to hostility and fear”.
She also criticised media coverage surrounding the event.
“In recent weeks, we have seen a persistent media campaign by the Murdoch press against this event,” Moore said.
“The coverage has exploited trauma, painting complex issues in black and white and, in bad faith, demanded our communities take sides.”
Moore added: “Protesting the war is legitimate, and in no way affects my deep sympathy, solidarity and concern for Jewish communities.”
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The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies welcomed the cancellation, stating: “The phrase ‘Globalise the Intifada’ has been recognised by a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry as a call to violence against Jewish Australians.”
“We have been engaging intensively with the Council — right up until this evening — to explain why this event would have endangered public safety and grievously undermine social cohesion.”
They also claim that the phrase “essentially means kill or maim a Jew wherever you find one.” However this is contested by pro-Palestine and anti-genocide groups who define it as an expression of solidarity with Palestinian resistance.
Stop The War On Palestine said the forum would proceed at Charles Kernan Reserve in Darlington instead. Organisers said: “We reject the implication from Clover Moore that our meeting risks public safety and respect for members of the community.”
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