Five protesters arrested in pro-Palestine rally at Port Botany appear in court

Five protesters – including a man whose Palestinian family members were killed in the conflict – can be revealed after police clashed with activists at a Port Botany protest.

Riley Brooke was one of the alleged protesters.

Five protesters – including a man whose Palestinian family members were killed in the conflict – have appeared in court for the first time after police clashed with activists at a Port Botany protest.

Close to 400 demonstrators assembled for a planned unauthorised protest on Foreshore Rd chanting “free Palestine”, banging drums and waving Palestinian flags near the port’s loading dock just after 6pm on November 21.

The demonstration aimed to disturb operations at the loading dock of a ship owned by Israeli company ZIM.

The peaceful protest quickly turned violent when scuffles erupted between the activists and police.

Padriac Gibson, Omar Al-Ouf, Ali Mrad and Riley Brooke appeared at Sutherland Local Court. Pictures: Ashleigh Tullis

Police allegedly issued a move on direction to the group who were seated blocking all operations on Foreshore Rd.

Police allege the order was not complied with and protesters allegedly continued to halt traffic on the usually busy road.

A video from the event showed a small child in a pram being carried over the heads of protesters as local officers, Public Order and Riot Squad and the Mounted Unit police moved through the crowd.

Officers also allegedly pulled activists to their feet and led them away.

Foreshore Rd was subsequently closed in both directions, as police continued to issue move on directions to several members of the group.

After several people continued to refuse police direction, 23 people were arrested before all the crowd left the roadway about 9pm.

The protest at Port Botany on Tuesday November 21. Picture: Twitter

All 23 people were taken to several police stations, where they were charged with various offences.

One of the organisers, Arncliffe’s Padraic Gibson – a well known activist – was photographed seated in the back of a paddy wagon following his arrest.

Gibson, 41, Chatswood’s Omar Al-Ouf, 26, Ali Mrad, 35, from Kingsgrove Riley Brooke, 29, and Brendon Eid, 22, from Pendle Hill, appeared in Sutherland Local Court for brief mentions of their cases.

All five were charged with damage or disruption to a major facility, pedestrians obstructing the driver’s/other pedestrian’s path, and failing to comply with a move on direction.

Brooke was also charged with assaulting a police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm.

In court, lawyer Nick Hanna – who represents Al-Ouf, Mrad and Gibson – his clients would likely plead guilty to the charges but he would make representations to police before pleas were formally entered.

The court heard Al-Ouf was an Australian of Palestinian descent who had lost 15 members of his family when killed in the recent conflict.

Mr Hanna also noted he would like to obtain body worn footage of the arrests from police and mobile phone footage from other activists.

Gibson, Al-Ouf, Mrad and Brooke’s cases were adjourned to January 23 at Sutherland court while Eid will next appear at Downing Centre Local Court on January 30.