Protesters who caused havoc during Land Forces expo revealed
These are the faces of some of the key players involved in causing chaos in the city during three days of costly protests against the controversial military event.
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These are the faces of some of the key players involved in the three-day protest against the controversial Land Forces expo, with the costly and chaotic demonstrations causing havoc on city streets.
Aidan Hawe
19-year-old arrested on Thursday for allegedly resisting police.
Told the media he would behave the same way if given the chance to attend the rally again.
Deanna ‘Violet’ Coco
Extinction Rebellion climate activist, who served jail time for her role in a climate protest in March.
Has been seen attending the Land Forces protests this week.
Nathalie Farah
Representative of Disrupt Land Forces and pro-Palestine activist who has attended several Palestine rallies this year.
Has been an outspoken advocate for the anti-war protesters this week.
Jasmine Duff
Students for Palestine co-convener, whose group branded Wednesday’s violence “a beautiful, defiant day of protest and disruption”.
Roisin McSweeney
Kicked off the week of protests by attaching herself to a vehicle called “the sleeping Lizard” which was parked on the Montague St exit ramp of the West Gate Freeway on Saturday afternoon. She was later arrested by police.
Carlos Cavral
Organiser of the activist coalition group Disrupt Wars who has attended protests throughout the week.
Renee Nayef
Deakin University student and Students for Palestine organiser. Attended the rally on Wednesday. Previously suspended from Deakin for involvement in Palestine encampment, but has since been allowed back.
Ihab Alazhari
Seen clashing with riot police and obstructing the path of police horses on Wednesday.
Regarded as one of the key organisers of Melbourne’s Free Palestine rallies.
Bizarre scenes as protesters zombie march through the city
About two dozen people dressed as zombies attended the street rally in some of the most bizarre scenes the city has seen.
The zombie-like crowd were covered in fake blood with bandages wrapped around their bodies.
They danced to loud music in the street in defiance of the weapons expo.
The crowd held fake body parts in the streets and sung ‘Bad Boys Reply’ in reference to the police force.
They were truly remarkable and bizarre scenes on the streets of Melbourne.
It is expected to be the final piece of protest action.
The crowd of anti-war protesters have marched across the King Street Bridge, moving their ‘zombie-rave’ from Batman Park to outside the convention centre.
With music pumping from a makeshift boat, the bizarrely dress protesters continue to dance and chant in front of a heavy police presence.
Chants of “from the river to the sea Palestine will be free” are being sung on masse as several protesters yell at police to “get a real job.”
Onlookers look both visibly horrified and amused at the horde of ‘zombies’ covered in fake blood and bandages.
Several of the songs blasting from the makeshift reference weapons, including one with the lyrics “don’t be so reckless, put down your guns.”
The protest has been largely peaceful so far, with no physical interactions occurring between police and protesters.
Pallas signals return of Land Forces expo
Treasurer Tim Pallas has signalled that Victoria is likely to bid to hold the controversial Land Forces expo again, despite the costly and chaotic protests.
The call comes as the anti-war crew said they would “100 per cent” return to the streets if the city was to hold the conference again.
Protesters said it would be “a bit of a joke” if the state would again pour millions of taxpayer dollars into hosting and policing the event.
“I think it’s hypocritical that they want to put another conference on,” organiser Eddie Papp said.
“I think it’s misinformed and the public don’t want it.”
Anti-war, anti-Israel protesters kicked off their final day of action on Friday morning by dumping a car on the King Street Bridge, while others hurled abuse at expo attendees on Spencer Street Bridge.
Two women who allegedly attempted to block peak hour traffic by sticking their arms into wet concrete stashed inside a parked car have been charged and bailed.
Police say the pair, aged 19 and 25, parked an unregistered blue Subaru station wagon on the Kings Way Bridge before attempting to plunge their arms into the mixture inside the boot about 7.40am.
While one woman was arrested immediately, Australian Federal Police officers and uniformed Victoria Police officers had to work for almost 40 minutes to free the second woman, whose arm was still stuck in concrete.
The 19-year-old driver, who had travelled from Bundagen in NSW for the protests, was charged with intentionally obstructing a police officer, a more serious charge that, if upheld, could be heard in the County or Supreme Court because it is a jailable offence.
She was also charged with public nuisance and driving an unregistered car.
The 25-year-old Montmorency woman was also charged with intentionally obstructing a police officer and public nuisance.
Both women were to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 21.
Meanwhile, police arrested eight men and another woman, all aged between 24 and 53, for several offences including carrying a slingshot, possessing drugs of dependence and refusing to be searched.
Police also arrested eight men and a third woman, aged between 24 and 53, for a range of offences including possessing a slingshot, possessing a drug of dependence and refusing to be searched.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said no officers, horses or protesters were injured on Friday.
Mr Pallas said while there was a lot to “absorb” as a consequence of staging the event, the economic benefits appeared to outweigh negatives.
“This is the biggest land forces exhibit that’s ever happened in this country, by quite a considerable margin,” he said.
“Some $70 million worth of economic investment, we think, is flowing directly from it.
“I anticipate that we would be looking to see what we can do in terms of securing what I think has been a very substantial project.”
Mr Pallas said the government may look to change the venue in the future.
“Whether or not we do it at that venue, and whether or not, of course, the organisers have a continuing appetite to conduct the event in that location, in this state, I think will be the subject of continuing discussion,” he said.
Mr Pallas said he had met with the event organisers and said they had been “very appreciative” of the security measures put in place.
Protesters hurl abuse, Greens senator joins rally
Earlier, about a dozen activists stationed themselves near the Spencer Street Bridge where they hurled abuse at those entering the Land Forces expo.
The enraged crew screamed “shame on you” and “blood on your hands”, which provoked little reaction from attendees.
One man was arrested for failing to comply with one of the several weapons searches conducted and was placed in handcuffs and marched away.
Greens Senator David Shoebridge joined a peaceful rally on the bridge just after 12.30pm.
He sat in silence with the Quakers for Peace group before addressing the media.
He said he had just come from inside the convention centre and was shocked to see so many politicians from both major parties inside.
He said the arms manufacturers inside the expo told attendees that the weapons had been tested on battlefields.
He said Defence Minister Richard Marles was inside “lapping it up”.
“They have literally been tested in the laboratory of Gaza, in the laboratory of Palestine,” he said.
“I’d say to Richard Marles ‘come out and speak to the people who vote for you, not the multinationals who you want a job from when you leave politics.”
Mr Shoebridge condemned any form of violence but claimed police used excessive force on the anti-war crew on Wednesday.
“We say there’s no place for violence in public gatherings. But we call out the extreme violence that came from Victoria Police,” he added.
“This is not Chicago 1968, this is Melbourne in 2024.”
Premier condemns protests
Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the rally at the Land Forces conference saying demonstrators “need to be peaceful”.
Her strong message against violent protests came after reports that rocks, marbles and hockey sticks had been found on people showing up to the event.
Ms Allan said the clashes with police had been shocking and that “some” protesters “showed up with the intent to not protest peacefully” prompting her to back the strong police response.
However, speaking on ABC radio, she refused to discuss arrangements around the event including how much taxpayer money had been spent to bring the event to Melbourne.
When asked about details Ms Allan said the deal was subject to “commercial in confidence”.
Her comments come after the government has also refused to publicly acknowledge whether Melbourne is set to host the same conference in 2026.
When asked if a permit system was needed to be brought in for protests that were happening regularly, Ms Allan shutdown the idea saying she was not confident these types of protesters would apply for a permit or stick to the conditions.
“Their (police) focus was on protecting the community and keeping the community safe against some, again I want to emphasise it’s not many only a small number, some who turned up not with the intent to protest peacefully.”
She also defended the state holding the conference.
“Let’s also remember that some of the companies attending Land Forces, like a company in my electorate Thales, they’re supporting the war effort in Ukraine with Bushmasters. So, let’s not pick and choose here which conflict you do and don’t support.
What we do support is the right to protest peacefully and we also support and thank Victoria Police for keeping our community safe.”
It marks the final day of the Land Forces weapons expo which will see further protest action hit the city.
Disgraced anti-war crews were tipped to gather for various speeches throughout the day before a “zombie rave at Batman Park to hassle attendees as they’re leaving the weapons expo”.
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