Protest chaos after ABC star sacked
Controversial feminist writer Clementine Ford and pro-Palestine supporters will rally to protest the sacking of presenter Antoinette Lattouf by the ABC.
Ms Lattouf was let go by the national broadcaster on December 20 after working just three days of a week-long fill-in host on Radio Sydney’s morning show.
The experienced ABC radio host and journalist was sacked hours after sharing a social media post about the war in Gaza.
She claims she was discriminated against because of her Arab background.
Supporters will gather at Melbourne’s State Library on Sunday, with Ms Ford to speak at the event.
The rally comes days after The Sydney Morning Herald reported it had seen a chain of leaked text messages showing a campaign from pro-Israel lobbyists to have Ms Lattouf sacked by the national broadcaster.
The 42-year-old has since filed an unlawful dismissal case against the ABC claiming she was fired because of her expression of political opinions and her Lebanese heritage. The broadcaster has strongly denied allegations the decision to terminate Ms Lattouf’s contract early was influenced by outside lobbyists.
“The ABC rejects any claim that it has been influenced by any external pressure, whether it be an advocacy or lobby group, a political party, or commercial entity,” ABC’s managing director David Anderson said in a statement.
On Sunday Ms Ford, who claimed in January that her ‘Dear Clementine’ podcast was cancelled by Nova Entertainment over her own views on the Israel-Hamas war, is planned to speak alongside poet and playwright Samah Sabawi and Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women’s Association president Ramila Chanisheff.
Rallygoers are expected to march from Melbourne’s CBD towards Victoria’s Parliament House. State Police are expected to be in attendance.
“The solidarity of women of differing nationalities means a lot to us,” a representative from Free Palestine Melbourne said.
“At a time when the Australian Israel Lobby has successfully pressured the ABC to sack Antoinette Lattouf, it is important for women to understand that the struggle for Palestine is also a feminist and a free-speech issue.”
