Protester twists banned phrase as crowd rallies for hate-speech accused
Updated ,first published
A large crowd of pro-Palestinian activists marched outside a court in Brisbane in support of the first person to be charged under Queensland’s new hate speech laws, while one man was warned by police for carrying a banner reading “from sea to river”.
Liam Parry, 33, was arrested for allegedly using banned language at Speakers’ Corner outside Queensland parliament in March during what police said was an unauthorized pro-Palestinian protest.
Dozens of supporters marched for Parry outside the Brisbane Magistrates Court ahead of his hearing on Wednesday morning.
Several police and courthouse security personnel stood nearby and officers surrounded a man named Mark Gillespie, who was holding a sign that read “from ‘sea’ to river,” a change in which the banned phrase changes the order of the words “sea” and “river.”
As the crowd circled Gillespie and the officers while shouting about free speech, Gillespie appeared to question the officers about the law.
Speaking to the media after his warning, Gillespie said he agreed to remove the sign.
“From what I understand in the legislation, it says that the phrase ‘river to sea’ is illegal,” he said.
“I questioned them about it and they showed me something in the legislation that if it looked like this symbol… whatever, I agreed to put it aside for now.”
Gillespie said the laws are an attack on freedom of expression and that’s why he made the sign.
Crisafulli’s government passed new laws through parliament last month, banning two phrases commonly used by pro-Palestinian protesters – “river to sea” and “globalising the intifada” – when they are used to incite hostility against a group or can reasonably be expected to offend the public.
Parry’s court appearance was as follows: NSW government He refused to say when laws banning the phrase “globalising the intifada” would be introduced, despite the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack being labeled urgent.
NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said the government was carefully considering a number of issues, including recent legislation passed in Queensland.
He said legislation in the region was complex and could face constitutional challenges.
Parry waited in the courtroom as fans chanted, “This is not a police state, we have the right to demonstrate.”
Lawyer Ella Scoles, representing Parry, asked for the case to be postponed to a later date. Parry was released on bail.
Parry’s fans cheered him as he walked off the pitch. He thanked the crowd and said the issue was ongoing, explaining that the group should continue speaking on behalf of Palestine.
“We must continue to speak out against our government’s complicity.
“The people of Gaza are still under attack and our government is still complicit, we will not remain silent as long as this happens,” he shouted.
He told reporters he would contest the charges and that speaking on behalf of Palestinians should not be a crime.
“I think it’s really important that people continue to talk about the genocide in Gaza. We must continue to speak out on behalf of the Palestinians,” he said.
“I think this is an important moment in Queensland right now, where the government is trying to criminalize pro-Palestinian advocacy.
“We cannot accept that, and I think today’s protest is an indication that people will not accept having their civil rights and civil liberties taken away.”
Asked how he felt facing a possible prison sentence, Parry said: “It’s a surreal feeling and I think it’s a dangerous moment in Queensland politics where you can face a two-year prison sentence just for saying six words.”
He said he did not believe his accusations had any justification and that he would not stop protesting.
Asked if he would use the phrase again, Parry said it would not invite further accusations against him.
He said there will be resistance against hate speech laws on the weekend of April 18.
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Cloe Read is the Brisbane Times’ crime and courts reporter.Connect with: X or email.
