Queensland Bans Phrases, Protests Erupt

0:00Queensland's ban two phrases, from the river to the sea, and globalized the Antifada, calling them anti-Semitic, with up to two years in jail, for anyone chanting or displaying them. Pro-Palestine protesters tested the law big time, leading to 20 arrests on 14 charges for showing the phrases in seven for reciting them. Right in front of police, a day before the arrests, hundreds pulled off a flash mob singing John Farnham's 1988 hit, Two Strong Hearts, which has lyrics like, reaching out forever like a river to the sea. Dressed in blonde wigs and 80s gear, they belted it out with no arrests, pushing back against what they call bullying of artists and activists. Conservative Jewish groups see these phrases as straight-up hate, while critics say, banning them mixes up Israel policy gripes with anti-Jewish vibes. Antifada nods the Palestinian uprisings in the late 80s and early 2000s, and it's spike lately amid Israel's military moves in Gaza. Police call the protest mostly peaceful overall.

1:02Earlier cases include a guy arrested in March for the river chant, and an 18-year-old charged for wearing it on her shirt. Now, New South Wales wants in after a deadly bondized shooting in mid-December that killed 15 at a Hanukkah event. This debate's heating up across states, balancing free speech against hate, and folks are watching close to see how these laws play out down under. That wraps Adelaide News today. Brought to you with AI.