South Africa and the entire world must take lessons and courage from how Israeli lobbyists failed to control the Adelaide Writers Festival
https://x.com/RediTlhabi/status/2011437059404189980
South Africa and the entire world must take lessons and courage from how Israeli lobbyists failed to control the Adelaide Writers Festival by ostracizing Australian Palestinian writer Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah. They thought they could get away with what they have been doing for decades: Hounding professionals out of spaces for daring to criticize Israel. Often, people look away and are too afraid to act.
But in a formidable show of solidarity and moral clarity, writers and speakers said : NOT IN OUR NAME! They pulled out in numbers, and the entire edifice collapsed. The board imploded. Heed the lesson! Silence enables this global bullying.
Now, the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg is banning artist Gabrielle Goliath for her artwork for the 61st Venice Biennale. This is after a lawful selection process.
The work confronts femicide & the killing of children in Gaza. From Johannesburg to Kyiv, Goliath has used her art to tell stories that must be told. Every story is allowed except ones that give Palestinians a voice? We should be careful what we allow.
Already, so many people in RSA are too scared to criticize Israel. Why? Are we not all South Africans? South Africans who criticize our own government consistently. So why must we be terrorised for criticising Israel? Don't let this happen. Once you normalise it, it will be hard to reverse.
Stand up! Speak up! The implosion of the Adelaide Writers Festival is an inspiring lesson.
Yes, I know there will be hours of pro Israel supporters having a meltdown on my timeline. I don't give a rat's ass and I am not afraid of you.
posted by Satish Sharma at
06:43
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