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Miss World Peace

in Melbourne

"History never repeats, but sometimes it rhymes." 
-Mark Twain 

Demonstrations affiliated with ‘Boycott Apartheid Israel week’ are regularly held in Melbourne town. The streets are full of University students and others, chanting  vitriolic messages such as:  

            ‘Is-ra-el and the USA, 

             How many kids did you kill today?’ 

I often attended these protests carrying two flags – the Palestinian and the Israeli one. My message is as naïve as the character I define – namely, to convey a hope that these two conflicting groups might be able to talk and listen to each other, with the ultimate goal, one day, of ‘peace’. 

Unfortunately, it was impossible to talk with anyone. The Israeli flag I was holding was ripped up by one of the protesters. 

Fast forward 10 years - 9.5.2024. 

 

Since Hamas’s vicious attack on Israeli citizens on 7.10.23, the world has spewed hatred towards Israel and Jews. University campuses throughout the West - the USA, Europe and Australia - have morphed into pro Hamas hot spots riddled with poisonous rhetoric. Jewish students have to hide their identity and no longer feel safe. Signs like ‘Zionists don’t deserve to live’ and ‘You are Hamas’s next targets’ are commonplace. 

Jew hate is becoming normalised. It is no longer a bad memory - a nightmare from the past.

 

Today levels of anti Semitism are off the charts. I've never felt less safe here in Australia.

 I am scared to attend these anti Israel/Zionist/Jew rallies held every Sunday in Melbourne city. 10 years ago I used to attend as many as I could as Miss World Peace.

Yes they were scary then too, and I prayed I wouldn’t get a knife in my back.

But what was (and still is the most confronting) is seeing people’s faces distorted with hatred towards me - calling me a ‘f…Zionist’ because I also carried the Israeli flag. There was no-one to talk with, no chance for dialogue, only slogans, chanting and screaming rhetoric.

 

Today the rallies are way bigger and way scarier - the hatred is palpable. They are h

 

What do we do with all this? 

I think that now, more than ever, we need to try and pursue peace -  somehow, someway. 

Maybe it’s still possible to repair the fractures for a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike? And a better future for the rest of us.

Because, while it might start with the Jews, it never ends with the Jews

Trying to be Brave

Trying to be Brave

State Library, Melbourne

The rally begins; I feel the scowls

The rally begins; I feel the scowls

Anti-Israel rally, Melbourne

Struggling against the crowd

Struggling against the crowd

Anti-Israel rally, Melbourne, 2013

Raising the sign: 'Palestinians, Israelis,  We Love You' was all I could do

Raising the sign: 'Palestinians, Israelis, We Love You' was all I could do

Anti-Israel rally, Bourke st. Melbourne

Plonk between the Police and Protestors

Plonk between the Police and Protestors

Anti-Israel rally, Melbourne

Working together to find a way...

Working together to find a way...

Rally, Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem

Anti-Israel rally, Melbourne city, 2014

Anti-Israel rally, Melbourne city, 2014

An Eye for an Eye makes the Whole World Blind

Oh oh, there goes the Israeli flag

Oh oh, there goes the Israeli flag

Anti-Israel rally, Melbourne

I Had a Dream

I Had a Dream

Anti-Israel rally, Melbourne City Centre

The Dream is Dying

The Dream is Dying

Anti-Israel rally, Melbourne City Centre

Coming Out as Miss World Peace

Coming Out as Miss World Peace

First time in the City

‘Women in Black’ protest

‘Women in Black’ protest

Coming Out as Miss World Peace

'Fuck off you racist Zionist!' he sneered

'Fuck off you racist Zionist!' he sneered

Anti-Israel rally, Spring st. Melbourne, 2012

I instructed Mum to record the event, but she held the camera upside down

I instructed Mum to record the event, but she held the camera upside down

Anti-Israel rally, Spring st. Melbourne, 2012

Trying to stay calm

Trying to stay calm

Anti-Israel rally, Melbourne

'Miss World Peace incites violence'

'Miss World Peace incites violence'

Screen Shot of video

'We can make it Work Together'

'We can make it Work Together'

From video: 'Miss World Peace incites violence'

'Miss World Peace incites violence'

'Miss World Peace incites violence'

Screen Shot from video

Scary Shit

Scary Shit

'Miss World Peace incites violence'

This must mean something??

This must mean something??

Missed World Peace

Miss World Peace: Early days
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