Socialist Alliance condemns violent police attacks on Melbourne and Sydney occupations

[This statement was released by Socialist Alliance on October 23, 2011.]

Socialist Alliance condemns the violent police dispersal of peaceful protesters at Occupy Melbourne (October 21) and Occupy Sydney (dawn, October 23) and pledges its full support for the re-establishment of these occupations against the tyranny of the world's richest 1%.

The experience around the world has been whenever one of these Occupy movement camps has been attacked, even more people have rallied to support them in response. We are confident the same will happen here.

We call on all people who share the Occupy movement's rejection of the gross injustices and global ecological vandalism being carried out around the world to make the richest 1% even richer to join the occupations and lend all possible solidarity and assistance to their re-establishment.

Occupy Melbourne and Occupy Sydney will be back stronger because the 1% and their enforcers cannot arrest the truth. They cannot handcuff ideas. They cannot beat the people's spirit of resistance or throw it into a paddy wagon.

We call on all progressive trade unionists, community leaders, church leaders, state and federal MPs, local councillors and mayors, to publicly condemn the violent attacks on Occupy Sydney and Occupy Melbourne.

We urge anyone who supports the re-establishment of the Melbourne and Sydney occupations to attend the emergency general assemblies of Occupy Sydney at University of Technology Sydney on Sunday October 23, 5pm and Occupy Melbourne at the State Library Tuesday October 25, 6pm.

Socialist Alliance supports the #OccupyPerth call for a rally, march then people's occupation on Friday October 28, 10am at Forrest Place, Perth.

Socialist Alliance also supports the October 29 global day of action widely endorsed by the Occupy movement in support of a "Robin Hood" tax on global financial transactions.

For further comment: Peter Boyle (national convenor) 0401 760 577