this post was submitted on 04 Mar 2025
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Socialism
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tl;dr
In 1933, amidst the Great Depression in Australia, Communist Party members Reginald “Shorty” Patullo and Noel Counihan instigated the Battle of Phoenix Street in Melbourne. This event, a protest against anti-protest laws, involved Patullo scaling a tram to shout slogans while Counihan locked himself in a steel cage to address onlookers. Police violence against the protesters, especially the shooting of Patullo, galvanized public support for the "Free Speech League." The League, backed by unions and some Labor MPs, challenged the UAP government's restrictions on public gatherings. The government was forced to release Patullo and amend traffic laws, effectively decriminalizing open-air meetings. The Battle of Phoenix Street is remembered as a significant victory for working-class history in Australia. It forced even staunch anti-communists like Robert Menzies to concede the legality of communist expression, highlighting the power of organized resistance against repressive laws.