‘Stop the war’ Anzac heckler arrested at Martin Place dawn service

A SELF-STYLED ‘revolutionary warrior number one’ who believes cannabis cures cancer was arrested after trying to disrupt the Anzac dawn service at the Cenotaph in Sydney’s Martin Place.

A self-styled “revolutionary warrior number one” who believes cannabis cures cancer was arrested after trying to disrupt the Anzac dawn service at the Cenotaph in Sydney’s Martin Place.

During a minute’s silence following the last post, those gathered at the service heard a man shout a number of anti-war slogan from the George Street end of Martin Place, chanting “stop the war, stop the war” during the commemorative silence.

Joe Mekhael, 32, was arrested for ‘behaving inappropriately’ at the Anzac Day dawn service. Picture: Facebook

Attention-seeking “General” Joseph Mekhael, 32, posted a video of his disrespectful performance on Facebook along with a photograph of himself with his thumb up after he was released on conditional bail by Surry Hills police.

But Mekhael, who also goes by the name “Smokin’ Joe” and claims to be a DJ, was mostly drowned out by the trumpeter who brought the one minute silence to an end and no-one took the blind bit of notice about him as his silly protest fell on deaf ears.

“I just got out of jail after disrupting the celebration of war that is #anzacday and being assaulted by some of Sydney’s weakest pencil-necked police puppets!” the Merrylands “revolutionary” posted on his Facebook page.

Mekhael was quickly granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on May 18. Picture: Facebook

Mekheal’s Facebook followers comment on his ‘protest’. Picture: Facebook

“We must have the courage to stand up against those who are enslaving the human race!”

He was arrested at about 5.21am and charged with behaving in an offensive manner in a public place and resisting an officer in the execution of duty. He claims on his Facebook page to have been “jailed” but he was quickly granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on May 18.

“The courageous will never be silent as long as these wars continue,” he shouted during the two minutes’ silence.

“Senseless violence. Stop the wars. Bring peace to the world.”

He claimed to be on day 226 of Operation Bring Down the Government and said his “Save The World Army” has 714 “certified revolutionary warriors from all over the world.”

Anzac Day Dawn Service at The Cenotaph Martin Place, Sydney. Picture Renee Nowytarger

The heckler chanted ‘stop the war’. Picture Renee Nowytarger

While not speaking specifically about the arrest, RSL NSW president John Haines said that while it was the “wrong time and the wrong place” for such slogans, it was also a day to commemorate those who lost their lives to ensure we all enjoyed freedom of speech.

“It was the wrong time and the wrong place and he should have recognised that,” he said.