Banned Phrase Sparks Arrest in Brisbane | Australia News

A protester in Brisbane was arrested outside court after chanting “from the river to the sea” — a phrase now banned in Queensland as hate speech — while rallying support for nearly 30 activists facing similar charges. The arrest followed the entry of other defendants into the courthouse, sparking a tense moment as police moved in. The protester, Helen O’Sullivan, and fellow activist Sam Woripa Watson, both previously detained by Israeli forces for attempting to deliver aid to Gaza, are now fighting the law — with Watson planning to challenge it in court. The controversial legislation, passed in March, frames the ban as a response to rising anti-Semitism, but critics argue it silences free speech and misrepresents the phrase as a call for violence, when many see it as a demand for justice and liberation. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8191382da0d202ae