Global Freedom Movement recently returned from Freedom Summit 2015 (held at Byron Bay, Oct 23-25). It saw a stellar lineup of speakers, including Lyn White, Dane Wigington, Ken O’Keefe, and Max Igan.
While one of the highlights was Max’s presentation as the opening act (confronting though it was, due to the sickening video footage of unprovoked Israeli violence towards Palestinians), it was tainted when, the next night (Oct. 24), a lone Max was leaving his favourite eatery and attacked from behind without warning. His assailant let Max know that this time around it was intended as the “friendly warning”, and that he should cease his criticisms and broadcastings of Israel’s crimes against the people of Palestine, Gaza in particular.
Max returned briefly to the Freedom Summit stage – gingerly – the next day – and obviously in a lot of pain – to let people know what had happened, and that it was a direct response to his support for the dignity and human rights of the Palestinian people (as well as the people of Israel, who Max rightly points out, are psychologically brutalised by “their own” Rothschild government on a daily basis). We might also note that there was a highly disruptive pro-Israel woman in the audience who continued shouting out while Max had the microphone and who was not admitted entry the following day as a result of her irksome outbursts at what was a fundamentally peaceful educational event. We can’t help but feel there is a connection here too, for obvious reasons (for it was that night Max was attacked).
However, Max stated that the assault had merely strengthened his resolved and that he would speak more loudly and more directly on the issue in future. He then slowly left the stage to a well deserved and emotionally charged standing ovation. Although Max goes to pains to distinguish between the psychotic GOVERNMENT of Israel and the largely hapless civilian population (many of whom oppose the vicious actions of the Israeli government/military against Palestine), such nuances are just too subtle for some people to grasp, it seems. Tellingly, Max’s friend and ally, ex-marine and Gulf War vet Ken O’Keefe – who also speaks out against Israel’s crimes against Palestine – was denied entry into Australia and thus prevented from speaking at the event in person. (It is clear where the Australian government’s allegiances lie.) He joined via Skype briefly and was greeted with immense appreciation.
From the Crowhouse:
Igan took several blows to the back of the head and 4 or 5 kicks to the torso and suffered some bruising and two cracked ribs. He is now recovering at home and on medication to deal with the pain. He says this attack has only served to reinforce his committment. “Now I have a tiny taste of what it feels like to be a Palestinian” he said. “All this attack has done is served to strengthen my resolve. It shows me the Powers [that be] are running scared because they know the wheels are falling off the slavery system they are running. Due to this assault, from this point forth, my message will be louder and even more direct.”
We will be there to both amplify and echo it, brother – in the name of peace and the end of ALL forms of supremacism. Heal up rapidly.
