Radical
Directory

Radical Directory Collective interviewed Free Palestine Melbourne as part of a project to support people who are new to grassroots organising in Naarm and looking for ways to get involved. Q: What kind of world is Free Palestine Melbourne working to build? A: Free Palestine Melbourne (FPM) is an anti-apartheid organisation, working towards the realisation of a world of free and equal human beings. We believe that the struggle for a free Palestine is a central front in the global struggle against racism. Because Israel is supported by an international coalition of Zionist and settler-colonial states and organisations (including the Australian government), we believe that it is crucial for progressive anti-racist forces around the world to organise in solidarity with the Palestinians. Q: What kind of work does Free Palestine Melbourne do? A: FPM is working to build up a diverse broadly-based anti-apartheid movement in Melbourne. FPM is affiliated with the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network and supports its call for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions against organisations that support Israel's apartheid regime. Apart from organising rallies in support of the Palestinians, a key focus of FPM's work is to raise public consciousness of the Palestinians' struggle for freedom by engaging with the media, student groups and other community organisations. Q: What skills do I need to be an active and useful part of Free Palestine Melbourne? Can you train me in these skills? A: Having access to an email account is the only important requirement for active membership. Our monthly meetings are normally in-person (although some members participate via Zoom). Zoom meetings take place occasionally but we could easily help new members download the software and learn to use it. Q: Who would be a good fit to be actively involved in Free Palestine Melbourne? Are you open to new people all the time, or do you make periodic call-outs? A: FPM is a diverse organisation, whose members belong to a range of age groups, ethnicities and professional backgrounds. We welcome the participation of anyone who shares our core values of anti-racism and Palestinian liberation. FPM has a zero tolerance policy towards any displays of racist, sexist, homophobic or other exclusionary behaviour. Any expression of anti-Semitic opinion is especially unwelcome. Otherwise new members are welcome all of the time. Q: How do I get involved? How can I contact you or stay up to date with what you’re doing? A: You can contact us via: - email: info@fpmelbourne.org - Or via our website: https://www.freepalestinevic.org/contact/ - Or you can come to one of our monthly meetings that are usually held at 2pm on the second Saturday of each month at the Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre in Carlton. - We also send out a monthly newsletter to which you can subscribe: https://www.freepalestinevic.org/contact/ - Or you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.