PARTISAN!

The following statement has been circulated by the all-Brisbane Steering Committee of the Revolutionary Communist Organisation in opposition to police repression, 2026.

Less than a month ago, we argued that “‘social cohesion’ is the battle cry of the capitalists as they unleash hate speech laws to cripple anti-imperialist solidarity with Palestine.” The recent arrest of Liam Parry under new hate speech laws mere hours after they were passed through Queensland parliament, has revealed once more the naked cynicism of the slogan of ‘social cohesion’.

When Queensland Police Service (QPS) raids the Dorothy Day House over raising a banner and drags 18-year-olds into police vans for displaying a banned slogan, the incompatibility of freedom and capitalism is revealed once more. The formal freedom and equality promoted in capitalist society only ever exists to the degree that the capitalist class will allow. As the system is driven further into crisis, it will become all the more repressive and undemocratic.

Some on the left may argue that we need hate speech laws to ward against the fascist movement, but we reject this argument. Every control over speech will be used against us, even on the most farcical of evidence. We stand for universal and total freedom of speech. Those who are wrong must be proven to be wrong, not simply barred from speaking.

When the state comes for the workers and socialist movement we must fight back. As such the all-Brisbane Section of the Revolutionary Communist Organisation demands the immediate and unconditional release of Socialist Party member Liam Parry, freedom for all political prisoners, an end to police harassment of workers and popular organisation, and the repeal of all laws restricting speech and organisation, and all bans on political symbols. We call on the entire socialist movement to unite in defence of freedom of speech, press, and organisation, and call for a united front of all socialist and workers organisations to advance this fight.