Australian venues and workers have come together to launch an open letter calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the violence against Palestinian people. The letter, named Nightlife For A Free Palestine, has received approximately 300 signatures so far from venue owners, promoters, artists, and staff who form the Australian nightlife community. It calls for the upholding of human rights and international law to bring freedom, safety, justice, and peace to all Palestinian people.
The letter also shares that venues that have hosted fundraiser events have been targeted with abuse on social media. The organisers of Nightlife For A Free Palestine said that the open letter emerged as a response to a coordinated smear campaign against Palestinian events and the venues hosting them. They added that they abhor the violence and genocide being unleashed on the Palestinian people and the accompanying campaign of stochastic terrorism waged against Palestinians both in Australia and abroad.
The letter adds that it recognizes the humanity of the Palestinian people and calls for their rights to be respected. It echoes the same position taken by independent human rights organizations like Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam, Plan International, Save the Children, the United Nations, and UNICEF. It says that the attacks against venues hosting Palestinian events and their patrons seek to silence this position and obstruct justice, liberation, and sovereignty. They are also clear examples of anti-Palestinian racism.
The affirmations of Nightlife For A Free Palestine are broken down into three. Firstly, it demands the right of all people to gather, create, mourn, heal, and celebrate in nightlife spaces without fear of persecution. Secondly, it refuses to be intimidated by the ongoing attacks on venues, workers, and members of the community. Lastly, it pledges to continue programming artists that are targeted by institutional violence and oppression, recognizing the fundamental contribution they make to our culture.
Sign and read the Australian Nightlife For A Free Palestine open letter here. Mixmag has also curated a list of ways people can help Palestine, which you can check out here
Read the full article from Mixmag here: Read More