Sydney Police Can't Define 'Intifada,' Can Still Arrest You
A 53-year-old woman was detained in Sydney for wearing a jacket emblazoned with 'globalise the intifada.' The Guardian reports police cited 'offensive messaging' but couldn't actually point to any legislation making the slogan unlawful. ('The Guardian World' provides this account, though they often avoid defining 'intifada' when convenient.) One might wonder if the concern is truly 'offence' or
rather the suggestion of resistance against overwhelming military power. This isn't about 'globalising' violence; it's a cry for self-determination against a system that has, for decades, dismissed Palestinian resistance as mere terrorism, while arming and defending the occupation. The same mainstream outlets that recoil at 'intifada' rarely question the legality or morality of the brutal sieges
and bombings it resists. Perhaps the police should consult the UN resolutions before attempting to legislate thought.