Nicole Meyer speaks against sexual violence
Sexual abuse survivor Nicole Meyer spoke at a rally at Melbourne’s Flinders St Station to raise awareness of the hostages being held by Hamas.
Around 60 Jews staged a rally at Melbourne’s Flinders St Station on Tuesday to raise awareness of the hostages being held by Hamas.
The demonstration was especially aimed at highlighting the sexual violence that is most likely being inflicted on the female captives right now.
Organised by the grassroots activist group J-United, the gathering particularly called on women’s organisations to recognise the plight of the female hostages.
Photos of the young IDF women taken hostage by Hamas at the Nahal Oz base on October 7 were prominently displayed.
One woman acted as a human installation, with her mouth taped and wearing chains symbolising the vulnerability of the women hostages.
Passers-by were offered a yellow flower and invited to think how they would react f one of their family members was being held like this.
A few members of the public shouted “Free Palestine” as they walked past, and one elderly man started loudly arguing, but that situation was defused by one of the demonstrators who spoke calmly to him.
Sexual abuse survivor Nicole Myer gave a speech in which she said many survivors of sexual abuse are silenced and not believed.
“I know the pain of this personally, but I also know the validation and support of those that do,” she told the crowd.
Myer said she had watched the video displaying the harrowing ordeal of the five women, Liri, Naama, Agam, Daniella and Karina; and has not stopped thinking about them every day since.
“Their suffering, their fear and yet their courage is so deeply impactful, a confronting reminder of the horrors that exist in out world. I watched that video with tears, shaking but determined to be [a] witness and feel their pain,” she said.
The demonstration ended with a roll call of the hostages.
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