Pro-Palestine protesters clash with busker in Bourke Street Mall
A violinist has called out the “thugs” who attacked him and destroyed his equipment as a pro-Palestine protest turned ugly when the busker refused activists’ demands to stop playing music.
Victoria
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Pro-Palestine protesters attacked members of the public and clashed with police during a violent demonstration in the CBD on Sunday.
Two men were arrested at the Bourke St Mall after 3pm, prompting an aggressive outburst from protesters, including one who kicked a police officer.
Footage taken by the Herald Sun showed another protester placing himself at the centre of the chaos with a baby strapped to his chest.
Violinist Cam Nicholson was attacked and his musical equipment damaged after he refused to follow protester demands that he stop playing.
“There was a whole mob of people … they didn’t give us a chance, they surrounded us. I was hit in the face with a steel pole. All of our equipment which we use for a living has been destroyed by these thugs,” Mr Nicholson said.
The performer was set upon after a verbal confrontation with a man holding a megaphone, believed to be Hash Tayeh, the founder of restaurant chain Burgertory who was questioned by police over alleged anti-Semitic comments made at a previous rally.
Meanwhile, pro-Palestine protesters were prevented from entering the “ring of steel” protecting the Melbourne Convention Centre’s controversial Land Forces military weapons exhibition.
Police are bracing for the state’s biggest protest in decades, as 25,000 activists are expected to descend on the CBD to demonstrate against the expo, which opens on Wednesday.
Special powers have been granted to police under anti-terror legislation, enabling them to search protesters without a warrant, ask them to remove masks and remove vehicles in the event area.
Interstate and regional police have been called in to bolster the response.
A 20-year-old Craigieburn man and a 49-year-old Broadmeadows man are expected be charged on summons with assault and resisting police in relation to the Bourke St clash.
Two officers were allegedly assaulted during the scuffle. Neither were physically injured.
“Investigations are ongoing into the initial altercation,” a police spokeswoman said.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines warned that protesters who disrupt CBD activities would be dealt with swiftly.
“If you come to the city to cause disruption, show disrespect and behave like an idiot, Victoria Police will deal with you swiftly,” the minister warned.
Extinction Rebellion protesters marched through the city streets on Sunday, aiming to disrupt the movement of heavy equipment needed to set up the Land Forces exhibition.
Some attempted to block transport and create traffic chaos on the West Gate Bridge.
“There is an expo happening in our city and we are here to say not in our city,” Extinction Rebellion spokesman Owen O’Reilly said.
On Saturday, an anti-weapons protester halted traffic by chaining herself to a vehicle dumped at the Montague St exit ramp. Police used an angle grinder to free the woman, who was led away in handcuffs.
Hotels believed to be occupied by defence personnel have also been vandalised with red paint.
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