Hypocrites hating Abbott to death Remember the Left's outrage over a poster showing Julia Gillard as a witch? Remember the fury of Labor and Greens MPs? Recall the countless times that poster featured in reports about the "misogyny" of Gillard's critics? Well, how much more offensive is a poster of same-sex marriage advocates from the Socialist Alternative showing Tony Abbott being hanged?: One same-sex marriage activist had the integrity to protest: Dear Socialist Alternative members, I can't tell you how my heart sank as I watched this banner at Saturday's Marriage Equality Rally in Brisbane. On the right it says "Dear Tone, Stahp ur homophobia or else, sincerely de gayz" On the left, a depiction of Tony Abbott being hung by the neck using a rainbow noose. Put simply, Socialist Alternative, if that's your idea of supporting our cause, then we don't want or need it. Leave us alone. More disturbing to me is that it really reveals how you see us. You seem to see us as a weapon, a tool to get what you want. The only piece of gay imagery on the whole banner is the rainbow used in the noose. We are not your weapons, and not your tools. We aren't the rope you're going to hang Abbott with, and if you think I'm going to do anything remotely like fâ¦ing Abbott, you're totally delirious. These are our rights that you're toying withâ¦. Equal Love rallies are peaceful. I will never condone violence against anybody. I will not remain silent while people threaten our prime minister, regardless of how I feel about him. I cannot condone actions which will cost LGBTIQ rights the support from the right that we actually need. So, Socialist Alternative, Take your red wedge and stick it wherever you find it most uncomfortable. I don't want it, and I reject it. Sincerely, Dylan Carmichael. Good stuff, right? The kind of thing you'd actually expect not just from a responsible citizen but from someone demanding more tolerance. And, of course, it's the kind of stand that would win sympathy for same-sex marriage protesters, not cost it. But check what happened next: The marriage equality activist in Brisbane who publicly spoke up against the Socialist Alternative's âHanging Abbott" banner at Saturday's Equal Love protest has now been expelled from the rally organising committee.â¦ Carmichael's letter proved divisive, but many agreed with him that the banner was offensive. Responding quickly to the situation, an urgent meeting of Equal Love was called to discipline him last night, with Equal Love Brisbane Convenor Kat Henderson reportedly calling his behaviour in writing the open letter "a disgrace." Members of the Socialist Alternative at the meeting voted as a bloc against him staying on with Equal Love. But quietly, a tacit admission among the hypocrisy: Equal Love Brisbane have responded to the concern over the âHanging Abbott" sign in a statement this afternoon, while its convener Kat Henderson has confirmed that the banner will not be seen at future rallies. Socialist Alternative is a minority in Equal Love Brisbane and did not move the motion against Dylan Carmichael at last night's meeting, says the statement. On banners seen at Equal Love rallies in general, the organisation says: "We do not believe it is the role of Equal Love Brisbane to censor, control or condemn materials that any supporting individual or group brings to the rallies. Those responsible say they represent equal love. They practice an unequal hate. Graeme Watson, writing in OUTinPerth, warns of a takeover of the same-sex marriage movement by socialists with hate on the minds: A gradual take over the Equal Love organisation by members of socialist groups is threatening to set back Australia's long walk towards marriage equality. With increasingly more aggressive arguments being put forward and less people attending each rally, there is a danger that the organisers will eventually be standing aloneâ¦ At last weekend's rally in Perth, police approached people wearing T-shirts that read "Fâ¦ Tony Abbott" and asked them to remove them â¦ At the Brisbane rally a banner that depicted the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott hanging from the gallows with a rainbow noose was a confronting image to manyâ¦ The banner was created by the political group Socialist Alternative â¦ Going backâ¦, in June there was a distinctly more violent vibe. At this rally the organisers encouraged people to stop and sit down in the middle of the road. The move caused traffic chaos in the city centreâ¦ Thanks to reader Michael.