Land Forces Expo protester Jasmine Duff placed on diversion for unlawful assault

A pro-Palestine activist who unlawfully assaulted two Land Forces Expo attendees has vowed to keep protesting after most of her charges were dropped.

A serial Melbourne protester who assaulted attendees on their way to a controversial expo has walked free from court, vowing to “keep protesting against war”.

It comes as the majority of charges against Jasmine Duff, 28 — who is the national co-convener of the Students for Palestine movement — were dropped at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, with prosecutors recommending her for diversion.

Ms Duff assaulted two attendees at the Land Forces Expo as they attempted to enter the Melbourne Convention centre on September 11 last year.

Deakin University student Jasmine Duff fronted court on Wednesday. Picture: Erin Constable

The court heard she blocked one of the men with her arm and pushed her body against another.

Other protesters then pinned one of the men — who was an army veteran — against a fence

in an incident he described as “terrifying” and a “completely unnecessary personal attack”.

Magistrate Stephen Ballek accepted Ms Duff’s diversion application, meaning the aspiring teacher will not have a criminal conviction against her name.

“Everybody has a right to protest but the right to protest does not include the right to assault other members of the public,” he said.

She was also ordered to make a $250 donation to the Palestine relief fund and to write an apology letter to the victims.

Ms Duff is the national co-convener of the Students for Palestine movement. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“It is ironic in a way that she is making a donation to something she believes in as part of a penalty,” Mr Ballek said.

Outside court, Ms Duff vowed to keep protesting against war.

“Its outrageous that Victoria Police are still putting more and more young people and activists through trials for standing up against the genocide that is taking place in Gaza,” she said.

“We are going to continue to come out and protest against war.”

Ms Duff also said police needed to stop spending taxpayer money on pursuing anti-war activists after several charges were dropped against herself and other Land Force protesters.

“The police have used millions of dollars in taxpayer money to pursue young people for charges … they have had to drop,” she said.

“That shows they should not be doing this.”

Pro Palestine protesters gathered outside Melbourne Magistrates Court in support of Land Forces protester Jasmine Duff on Wednesday morning. Picture: Supplied.

Several other pro Palestine activists supported Ms Duff — who unsuccessfully ran as a Vic Socialist candidate for Fraser in the federal election — outside of court on Wednesday.

“We stand with all of the anti-war pro Palestine activists that have been dragged through the courts and persecuted by the Victorian government,” Students for Palestine activist Renee Nayef said outside of court.

“We think it is just disgraceful.”