RSL Australia Condemns Desecration of the Australian War Memorial in Strongest Possible Terms

MEDIA RELEASE

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has strongly condemned the desecration of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Overnight, pro-Palestine graffiti was painted on the Australian War Memorial in the nation’s capital.

RSL National President Greg Melick said the desecration of the nation’s sacred place would be deplored by all fair-minded Australians.

“The vandal did not even have the courage to be identified and the painting of the slogans on the memorial is appalling,” Greg Melick said.

“People are entitled to protest, but the defilement of a memorial to those who served, suffered and died in the service of the Australian nation and to protect the freedoms and way of life of all Australians is disgusting and to be deplored,” he said.

“This action does absolutely nothing to advance the protesters’ cause and in fact will likely result in a major loss of support.

“The brave Australians who have served and died in serving our country in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations over the past century or more had nothing to do with the current conflict in Gaza or the situation confronting Palestinians, and to use our national War Memorial as a platform to protest is contemptable.

“On behalf of the RSL and all who have served and continue to serve our nation, we condemn the actions of the protester or protesters in the strongest possible terms.

“These shameful people must be apprehended and face the full force of the law.

“The desecration of the Australian War Memorial does nothing to enhance the cause of those suffering in the Middle East and offended not only veterans and service personnel, but all fair-minded and freedom-loving Australians,” Greg Melick said.