The Inner West Council’s outright rejection of Councillor Griffiths’ motion is not just a disappointment – it is a disgraceful abdication of moral responsibility and a betrayal of our community’s values. This motion, which called for ethical investment and procurement practices to ensure council funds do not support human rights violations or the weapons industry, was dismissed without even an attempt at amendment. This demonstrates an appalling lack of commitment to human rights and ethical governance.

Let us be crystal clear: Your willingness to maintain investments that support human rights violations and companies profiting from genocide makes you complicit, and it will not be forgotten or forgiven. Your days in office are numbered.

To the councillors who voted against this motion:

1. You have chosen to ignore the International Court of Justice’s rulings on Israel’s illegal occupation and actions in Palestine.
2. You have dismissed the voices of your constituents, including those of Palestinians and anti-Zionist Jews, who spoke passionately for justice and human rights.
3. You have failed to address Council’s investments in companies like HP, which directly support Israel’s apartheid regime and oppression of Palestinians.
4. You have hidden behind false accusations of antisemitism to avoid facing the reality of your complicity in ongoing atrocities, which have led to over 186,000 Palestinian being murdered since October 7, 2023.
5. You have demonstrated that you lack the moral courage to stand up for what is right, even when it comes to broader ethical investment practices that could benefit our entire community.

Your foreshadowed motion, which merely reaffirms existing policies without addressing the need for concrete action, is wholly inadequate. It fails to acknowledge the gravity of the situation and the council’s responsibility to ensure its investments do not support human rights violations.

Your actions yesterday have shown that you do not represent the values or interests of this community. You have chosen to side with oppression over justice, with profit over human lives.

But make no mistake – we will not stand for this. The council elections on September 14, 2024, are fast approaching. We will remember your choices. We will organise, we will mobilise, and we will vote you out.

To those running in the upcoming election: Take note. Our community demands leaders who will stand for human rights, ensure our council’s investments are ethical, and listen to their constituents. We are watching, and we will hold you accountable.

The people of the Inner West deserve better. We deserve leaders who understand that silence in the face of injustice is complicity. We deserve a council that reflects our values and our commitment to human rights and ethical governance.

Your time is up. We are coming for your seats, and we will not rest until we have a council that truly represents us.

Families for Palestine, and the broader community that stands with us, are more determined than ever. This is not the end – it’s just another day of our fight for justice, both here and abroad.