Geelong offices of Richard Marles, Sarah Henderson vandalised
The offices of multiple Geelong politicians have been vandalised overnight by pro-Palestine supporters.
Geelong
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Pro-Palestine supporters have vandalised the offices of Geelong politicians overnight.
According to Geelong Palestine Action, seven offices were targeted including Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles’ offices on Yarra St and Brougham St and federal senator Sarah Henderson’s office on Moorabool St.
The offices of federal MP Libby Coker and state MPs Darren Cheeseman, Christine Couzens and Gayle Tierney were also vandalised.
“Complicit in genocide” and “war pig” were spelt out across Mr Marles’ and Ms Henderson’s offices.
Red paint was also splashed on Mr Marles’ windows, believed to symbolise blood.
A sign of Ms Coker’s Armstrong Creek office said it would be closed on Thursday due to “current cirumstances”
After seeing the grafiti on Ms Coker’s office, one passerby said “that’s disgusting.”
A police spokeswoman said officers became of the aware of the graffiti just after midnight on Thursday.
Geelong Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the incidents.
“The exact circumstances surrounding the incidents are yet to be determined,” a police spokeswoman said.
Mr Marles said he was aware of the vandalism and protest activity at his office.
“My first concern is always for the safety and wellbeing of my staff,” he said.
Ms Henderson said there was “no excuse for this senseless vandalism.”
“It only serves to underline an extremist ideology from a minority which continue to turn a blind eye to the acts of terror carried out by Hamas,” she said.
“Intimidating attacks from activists should not be tolerated in any community.
“Every individual deserves to feel safe and respected in their workplace - including my staff.”
A state government spokesman said “this kind of vandalism has no place in our Victorian democracy.”
“People have the right to express their views peacefully, but no one has the right to vandalise our streets and buildings and make people feel unsafe,” he said.
In the wake of the graffiti an anonymous Geelong Palestine Action spokesperson said “it is unconscionable that our governments are aiding and abetting these war crimes.”
“Israel is killing civilians indiscriminately,” the spokesperson said.
“The Liberals have been howling that Labor hasn’t gone far enough in supporting Israel so (Senator) Henderson and Liberal MPs more broadly are also complicit.”
The vandalism comes after Mr Marles’ office was defaced in December.
Protesters wrote “blood of children” across the front of the building and covered the exterior in red paint.
In November, pro-Palestine supporters stormed Mr Marles’ Brougham St office and chained themselves to his reception area using bike locks.
Anyone who witnessed the incidents or has footage should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Originally published as Geelong offices of Richard Marles, Sarah Henderson vandalised
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