this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2025

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141

Anti-zionism v antisemitism. Bondi Beach "F*** Israel" t-shirt man in court battle for freedom of speech - Michael West (michaelwest.com.au)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by brisk@aussie.zone to c/australia@aussie.zone

35 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Police now want to drop charges against a man they arrested last year for wearing a F*** Israel F*** Zionism t-shirt. But the man, Andrew Brown, wants his day in court. Michael West reports on a big test for free speech.

top 35 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] minnism@lemmy.world 22 points 1 month ago (2 children)

If I wore a "Fuck the USA, Fuck MAGA" shirt would I get arrested? No. Complete overreach.

[–] Afaithfulnihilist@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That's a pretty bold assumption considering they've already arrested people for less.

Heck there have been people arrested for posting Trump or Charlie Kirk comments unedited.

It's still overreach but they're definitely getting away with walking all over the law.

[–] brisk@aussie.zone 4 points 1 month ago

Heck there have been people arrested for posting Trump or Charlie Kirk comments unedited.

In Australia?

[+] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone -14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I had no idea there were so many Far Right American MAGA's at Bondi Beach?

In order to offend someone, there has to be someone to offend ;)

Pro-Palestine Bondi Beach protest turns violent | 7NEWS

https://youtu.be/BS_5_4wyLFk?t=24

On the other hand we do know that if you attempt to even walk near Muslims they will threaten to arrest you:

Activist reporter Lauren Southern who is currently touring Australia with popular alt-media philosopher Stefan Molyneux, was warned by police not to visit a mosque in Lakemba, a predominantly Muslim area in Sydney’s western suburbs. Her plan was to observe the “culture” in Lakemba and to interview people outside of the mosque.

But before she could get there, she was apprehended by a senior police officer, who warned her that if she continued, her actions may incite a serious breach of the peace. His first line of questioning included asking her where she planned to walk next. In a video of the exchange, the flatfoot is seen to tell her that he has “grave concerns” that she will cause an “imminent breach of the peace” if she continues on towards the mosque and asks her not to go there.

https://www.spectator.com.au/2018/08/how-lauren-southern-exposes-a-double-standard/

So yeah, if there was a large group of MAGA's and far right Americans in Bondi (instead of Jews) and you wore that shirt you too would probably get moved on

[–] fakeman_pretendname@feddit.uk 20 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I feel like if you approach a mosque on behalf of a far-right, white supremacist cult, to "investigate them" for your far-right, white supremacist friends, your intentions are not likely to be peaceful and honourable.

That sounds like the correct call from the police.

[–] DavidDoesLemmy@aussie.zone 12 points 1 month ago

It sounds like the police over reacted. Hope he wins

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 6 points 1 month ago

Looks like this. Who knows where the money goes.

[–] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Haven't read the article yet but was the shirt "fuck Jews" or "fuck Israel?"

Edit : It was a "fuck Israel, fuck Zionism" shirt.

[+] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca -58 points 1 month ago (6 children)

"Zionist" is a term used by anti-semites in an attempt to make anti-semitsm acceptable in polite circles.

Just as anti-semitism was created by the anti-judaic crowd in the late 19th century to make hating Jews cool back then too.

Antisemites have been playing this game of swapping terminology for a long time. Maybe this guy was fooled by it, and maybe you dear reader, have been fooled by it as well. But don't expect the rest of society to be fooled by the same anti-semitic bullshit that has been going on for centuries as you have. Trying to force the rest of society to go along with your anti-semitc terminology is not going to go well.

Just because it's cool in your circles to hate on Jews, and you may think you're fooling people with your "clever" change in terminology (even if you were fooled by it yourself) it's just not a good look for you.

[–] pulsewidth@lemmy.world 40 points 1 month ago

Zionist is an explicit term with an explicit meaning, not a euphemism or dogwhistle.

Zionism is an organised ethnocultural nationalist movement for the creation of a Jewish state through the complete colonization of the Palestinian state. The term "Zionist" was explicitly created by Jews - not anyone anti-Judeic or anti-Semitic. See for example the First Zionist Congress created by Theodor Herzl.

Zionism is a political movement, not a religious or race.

Nobody cares much nowadays for hearing the lie that to be anti-Zionist is the same as being anti-Semitic, because it's a lie told to deflect any criticism of Zionist politicians and the Israeli government.

[–] crapwittyname@feddit.uk 17 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You're a Zionist, yet you're not Jewish. So how does that work then?
I am disgusted by what you stand for, in exactly the same way, and for the exact same reasons that I abhor what Netanyahu stands for. Only one of you is Jewish. The target of my opposition is genocidal settler colonialism, not race, not religion. So how can my anti-Zionism equate to antisemitism?

Once again SpaceCowboy, you are talking absolute arse gravy of the lowest calibre.

[+] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca -24 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I've read history books and I see people saying the same kinds of bullshit antisemitic rationalizations being used today as was used in the past.

If you were willing to learn history you wouldn't be so prone to repeat the mistakes of the past. Many of us have and we recognize the pattern you're following.

[–] crapwittyname@feddit.uk 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That's a load of vague finger pointing you're doing there.
Nothing of any substance at all.

[–] ReluctantMuskrat@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago (2 children)

It's a term created by Jews to self-identify as being anti-Palestinean. Are you a liar or just stupid? I think we know.

[–] sqgl@sh.itjust.works -1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

No, you made that up.

It is merely a term for having a state for (primarily) Jews in the Levant.

Some Zionists want all of the Levant including parts of Egypt, Jordan, Syria. Unfortunately there a few of these in government currently.

[+] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca -19 points 1 month ago (2 children)

You could take 10 seconds to google "origin of the word antisemitism" if you don't want to look silly.

But methinks you're afraid to learn anything about the history of antisemitism since you might find out you're following the exact pattern of racists in the past.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

You should take your own advice and look up what and where "zionist" means and came from. 🤦‍♂️

[–] fodor@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)

You can talk about the origin. But we all know exactly what it means now: people who want to expand Israel land area to encompass more (or all) of Palestine.

This isn't some ambiguous political term. It is quite simple. If you think it is offensive, stop advocating for that future.

[–] sqgl@sh.itjust.works -1 points 1 month ago

ProPals are the ones who redefined it. Just because you are essentially in an echo chamber here doesn't make you correct.

[–] CXORA@aussie.zone 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The very first time i herd the term zionist used was by a pro zionist jewish man. So clearly your asssertion isnt 100% accurate.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 3 points 1 month ago

Yeah this is my experience as well. Also were im from people can have all sorts of things on shirts and maybe a restaurant may not let you dine if they find it offensive but the police can't just arrest you for your shirt.

[–] Shamber@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Yes, 7000$ checks has finally and openly hit Lemmy, and fake history lessons, mixed with hollow sounding words, to make an absolute zio scum sounds anything else than he/she is really is, a zio scum

[–] guismo@aussie.zone 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Looking at his comment history, he manage to be hated even in technical posts, plus everything else.

Apparently some people are really just naturally like that, no financial incentive required. I can't understand why.

Or he's really just a troll and doesn't even believe what he says. He just enjoy the many posts that follow his comments.

[–] Shamber@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

You actually make a great point, I think he just likes to post shit comments and thrives on being down voted and humiliated at the same time, it doesn't seem like he actually holds any actual opinions, not even once he tried to engage or at least defend his point of view