Former Mosman deputy mayor Andrew Brown arrested for wearing anti-Israel shirt in Bondi

A man arrested at a popular Sydney beach for wearing an allegedly offensive anti-Israel shirt in areas with high Jewish populations has been revealed as a former councillor.

Andrew Brown was the former deputy mayor of Mosman Council between 2004 and 2008

A man arrested at Bondi Beach for wearing an allegedly “offensive” anti-Israel shirt in residential areas with high Jewish populations can be revealed as former Mosman Council deputy mayor Andrew Brown.

Brown, who is the son of former Hawke Labor minister John Brown, has been unapologetic about his views on Israel after his arrest on November 3 and has since appeared in a TikTok video explaining that he wore the top emblazoned with the words “f**k Israel’ and ‘f**k Zionism” to “give Palestinians a voice, because they don’t have one” and that supporters have since asked to have their picture taken with him.

Brown, a former deputy mayor between 2004 and 2008, was confronted and arrested by police at the tourist beach spot for wearing the provocative top at around 12.50pm on Sunday November 3.

He has been charged with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm and two counts of behave in offensive manner in/near public place/school.

No pleas have been entered.

Former deputy mayor of Mosman Andrew Brown wearing the shirt.

Mr Brown was arrested for wearing the allegedly offensive shirt.

He was initially refused bail but subsequently granted conditional bail as long as he does not enter the Eastern Suburbs area — from Paddington in the west to Bondi in the east from Bronte in the south to Watsons Bay in the north — except to visit a solicitor or attend court.

He must remain on good behaviour and not make contact with any prosecution witness.

Crowds did a double take and gathered while police questioned him on the beach promenade earlier this month.

Brown has also been seen parading in the T-shirt in Sydney’s Double Bay and Bondi accompanied by his wife, which police will allege was to offend and intimidate in the predominantly Jewish residential areas. His wife is not accused of any wrongdoing.

In a subsequent podcast entitled the dietdoctor, Brown explained his views saying, “Anti Zionism isn’t antisemitism….

“Zionism is the theft of an indigenous peoples land,” he said.

“It is the dispossession of people. The Nakba 1948. Then continued dispossession and brutalisation of people.

“You know when I wore that T-shirt a couple of times, the amount of people who came up to me and want their photograph taken with me…saying ‘good on you brother’…whatever, 10 to one.

“To anyone who may have been upset, why should I pay any attention to them anyway?

“I suffered the ignominy on the weekend, of being approached by two police officers, being handcuffed, being dragged up the beach, being dragged through Bondi.

“It was a message behind that, which is ‘do what you told don’t come down here agitating.,” he said.

Former deputy mayor of Mosman Andrew Brown has been parading the T-shirt in Sydney spots with high Jewish populations

“Being thrown in the back of a paddy wagon, being left in a paddy wagon for half an hour in a dark car park, and then having six hours and a police cell for wearing a t shirt, being charged, fingerprinted forcefully, DNA tested for wearing a t shirt in Australia in the 21st century, because some people took offence to it.

“I think the Palestinian people are most courageous people on the planet, and if I can give voice to them, because they’re voiceless, you know…”

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said Brown should be avoided.

“The guy has been seen swanning around Double Bay and Bondi Beach, lingering for long periods of time,” he said.

“It is peculiar for a former public official with no apparent link to Jews, their state and their national movement.

“The profanity is plainly offensive and anyone who thinks fit to behave so erratically should be avoided. I urge members of the community to give this hero a wide berth.“

Brown is due appear before Waverley Local Court on January 22, 2025.

Brown has been contacted for comment.

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