Major police presence in Melbourne’s CBD as pro-Palestine protesters rally
Hundreds of people have rallied in the CBD calling for freedom for Palestine, while speakers denounced the hostile scenes that erupted in Sydney on Monday.
Victoria
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Hundreds of protesters have gathered at the State Library ahead of a pro-Palestine rally.
A group of students from Suzanne Cory High School, a selective school in Werribee, could be seen waving Palestinian flags and chanting “free Palestine”.
Police patrolled the area surrounding the State Library as the crowd grew to several hundred supporters.
Hundreds have gathered at the State Library for a pro-Palestine rally. Police can be seen patrolling nearby @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/iRZUs3UPvg
— Olivia Jenkins (@byoliviajenkins) October 10, 2023
Protesters have begun marching through the CBD @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/wMKHKn7aV7
— Olivia Jenkins (@byoliviajenkins) October 10, 2023
Free Palestine Melbourne organiser Bella Beiraghi said the aim of the event was a peaceful show of support for Palestinians.
Ms Beiraghi said the hostile scenes that erupted in Sydney did nothing to support innocent Palestinian civilians caught up in the conflict.
“It was definitely a minority. They were a hostile sort of group that just tacked themselves onto the end of that rally,” she said.
“We wholeheartedly stand on the side of Palestinians. Those chants were not anything that we support.
“We are planning a peaceful demonstration to show our support for Gazans right now that are under attack by Israel.”
Crowds stood as they chanted “from the heavens to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
One flag read: “Free Palestine. Boycott Israel”.
Kieran, who performed a welcome to country to begin the rally, said there were parallels between the colonisation and oppression of Aboriginal people and Palestinians.
“We condemn the Australian government’s support of Israel and we condemn the western media’s demonisation of the Palestinian struggle,” he said.
“In our solidarity, we strive for nothing less than the complete dismantling of the oppressive structures that perpetuate insidious ideologies.”
Palestinian university student Dana addressed the growing crowd, saying Palestinians had been continually persecuted for many years.
She slammed media coverage that labelled Hamas atrocities as terror attacks, saying Palestinians had been pushed to breaking point.
“For the past 75 years, we have been killed. We have been brutalised. We have been slaughtered,” she said.
“We have been ethnically cleansed, dispossessed and displaced, homes stolen, entire families wiped off the face of the earth, imprisoned and dehumanised by the world.
“Palestinians have the right to protect themselves by any means necessary.”
Protesters began marching along Swanston St just after 7pm before turning into Lonsdale St.
The Free Palestine Melbourne group said Tuesday night’s event was for people to stand “in solidarity with Palestine”.
“After decades of intensifying oppression, displacement and ethnic cleansing, Palestinians have once again shown that they will continue to resist their oppressor,” the group posted on Facebook.
“They have broken down the walls that keep them locked in Gaza, the world‘s largest open air prison, and humiliated the Israeli regime.
“In response, Israel has declared war on Gaza, and has imposed a total blockade, including food, electricity and fuel. We have to mobilise to show our support for Palestine.
“Rally to demand freedom and justice for Palestine!”
Victoria Police said they will have a “highly visible presence” at the rally to “prevent breaches of the peace and ensure the safety of the community”.
“Victoria Police is aware of protest activity outside the State Library tonight,” a spokesperson said.
“While individuals have the right to protest lawfully, we strongly encourage those attending to protest peacefully and without impacting the broader community.
“Victoria Police retains close communications with all communities which have a strong interest in events unfolding in the Middle East”.
There was one antisemitic incident that occurred that is being investigated by Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit detectives, which unfolded about 4pm.
“Police have been told a car pulled over near a man on Toorak Road near Williams Road about when threats were made by occupants of the car,” a spokesperson for Victoria Police said on Wednesday.
“Detectives are investigating the circumstances and the investigation remains ongoing.
“There is absolutely no place at all in our society for anti-sematic or hate-based behaviour and Victoria Police is committed to responding to any such acts.”
Anyone who has information or footage of the incident are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.
Otherwise, the group has planned for a “peaceful protest”, with one supporter encouraging people to “be smart”.
“Chants heard in Sydney such as “gas the Jews” are the worst thing we could do for them, the Palestinian people,” he said.
“They’ll use these sort of chants to justify the further killing of innocent Palestinian families”.
It comes as Hamas launched thousands of rockets into Israel on Sunday, with the Israeli death toll surpassing 900 people.
More than 1300 people are believed to have died in the conflict.
Hamas has also threatened to execute hostages for every Palestinian house bombed after Israel declared a state of war and mobilised 300,000 troops in preparation for invasion.
Palestinian supporters rallied in Sydney on Monday night, where flares were thrown at the steps of the Sydney Opera House which had been lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag.
Chants such as “f-k the Jews” were also heard at the Sydney event.
No arrests were made in Sydney.
A second Melbourne Palestine rally has been planned for Sunday October 15.
But Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said he was “concerned” the rallies would “descend into a mob outburst of racial hatred and could become violent”.
“The right to assemble and protest is fundamental to our democracy but one wonders what sort of person would choose to rally in support of mass atrocities?” he said.
“We have all seen the same footage of mass executions of civilians by terrorists going door to door, children ripped from parents’ arms and paraded in Gaza, accounts of women raped next to their murdered friends and then executed.
“The fact there are people in our midst who would defend or rationalise this is truly chilling.
“This is a time for political and community leaders to lead and call out this glorification of some of the worst crimes we’ve seen since the Holocaust era.”
Daniel Aghion, president of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria asked “why would any sane person rally in support of terrorism?”
“ The cruel and barbaric acts of Hamas should be called out and condemned, not celebrated.”
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