Demand for apology from radio station

Melbourne community radio station Triple R (3RRR) is facing criticism after a presenter linked a land acknowledgement to a pro-Palestinian slogan during a live broadcast, and the station’s manager defended the remarks in response to a formal complaint.

During the “Stolen Moments” program on Saturday, February 28, a fill-in volunteer presenter identified only as “Lucy” concluded the station’s standard Wurundjeri land acknowledgement with the words: “in the spirit of acknowledging stolen land as always Free Palestine from the river to the sea.”

A Melbourne Jewish listener who wishes to remain anonymous lodged a formal complaint, describing the phrase as “a blatant call for the destruction of the State of Israel” that “does not recognise Jewish roots in that region and thus Jewish identity and is therefore antisemitic.”

The listener called for a public apology and confirmation that the presenter had been “admonished and educated,” warning he would not return as a listener otherwise.

In a response dated March 11, station manager Dave Houchin rejected the characterisation of the “river to the sea” slogan.

“It’s well understood that the meaning attributed to this by many is for Palestinian liberation and for freedom and equality for everyone in the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea,” Houchin wrote.

“And this is the very meaning intended by the presenter. These things are not antisemitic.”

Houchin added that “placing that label on people or slogans with only an anti-war and anti-authoritarian agenda pushes in the wrong direction.”

The response drew a sharp rebuke from Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission.

“Words matter and slogans matter since they create the climate in which violence becomes possible,” Abramovich said. “What makes this episode even more disturbing is the station’s response. Instead of acknowledging why this chant is so offensive and dangerous, the complaint was brushed aside.”

Abramovich noted that in Queensland, chanting or distributing the slogan is now a criminal offence, and called on the station to apologise publicly and unequivocally.

“3RRR must apologise, publicly and unequivocally,” he said. “Community radio should amplify music, culture and conversation, not divisive, obscene slogans. The airwaves belong to the public, not to those who would hijack them to broadcast the language of elimination.”

RRR did not respond to The AJN’s request for comment before our deadline.