Ingrid Stitt defends right to protest after pro-Palestine activists send National Gallery of Victoria into lockdown

Victoria’s multicultural minister has refused to condemn anti-Israel protesters who rallied outside the National Gallery of Victoria and trapped families inside, saying “people have the right to protest”.

Police at the NGV on Sunday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Victoria’s multicultural minister has refused to condemn anti-Israel protesters who rallied outside the National Gallery of Victoria, blocking the path of families with little kids and sending the gallery into lockdown.

The NGV was locked down on Sunday after about 1000 pro-Palestine protesters mobbed the state’s premier arts institution.

Police had to escort departing museum visitors – many of them young families and elderly people – through the crowd.

It’s understood that the gallery was targeted because it is supported by well-known Jewish philanthropists John and Pauline Gandel.

The rally came after anti-Israel activists attacked the NGV online for renaming one of its hall’s after the Gandels, labelling the couple “influential billionaire Zionists and long-time associates of the entity’s current leader Benjamin Netanyahu”.

A Zionist is defined as a person who believes in Israel’s right to exist.

On Monday, Multicultural Minister Ingrid Stitt defended the protesters, saying they had a right to protest.

“In Victoria, people do have the right to protest peacefully and the vast majority of people do protest peacefully,” she said when asked about the incident.

“We want to make sure people can move around the city with confidence and safely.”

Pro-Palestine protesters sent the NGV into lockdown. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Asked repeatedly whether the activists’ behaviour on Sunday was appropriate or respectful, Ms Stitt claimed that was a matter for Victoria Police.

“These are operational matters for VicPol to respond to,” she said.

Ms Stitt, who was also asked whether she was comfortable with new chief commissioner Mike Bush calling Victoria the “protest capital”, said the state had a “strong history of peaceful protest”.

“And I think that’s the key,” she said.

“When things cross the line and are no longer peaceful and people are feeling unsafe then that is where VicPol step in.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin slammed the protesters over their targeting of the Gandel’s.

“(Sunday’s) disgusting protest targeted two Jewish Australians in their 90s, who have devoted their lives to Holocaust education and philanthropy,” he said.

“They daubed a building to identify it as Zionist-owned, and referred to a gala event as a “secret Zionist meeting”.

“Anyone with an elementary knowledge of what Zionism is knows how stupid the Zionism is Fascism accusation is.

“But, the actions of these protestors are straight-up fascist.”

Ingrid Stitt said Victorians have a right to protest. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Pro-Palestine protesters make their way through the CBD. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Tense scenes unfolded at the NGV on Sunday as patrons were trapped inside while some protesters got up close and personal with police, screaming in their face and calling them “scumbags”.

Public Order Response officers and mounted police were called in as a response to the rowdy mob. At one point, a group of protesters surrounded a police van and blocked it from driving off for five minutes before they were moved on by police on foot.

The NGV was put into lockdown as a result of the chaos.

One man, who was out the front of the gallery, said he had “no idea” his plans would be detailed by the protest.

“It was chaos getting here and now it makes sense why it took so long … this feels like the biggest disruption in terms of impact,” he said.

“There was an obscene amount of police blocking the entrance … it was pretty intimidating but they were really nice about it.”

Families who were in the city to watch a Wiggles concert watched on as the protesters marched down St Kilda Rd.

Some children and their parents were visibly distressed.

Multiple people who were prevented from going into the NGV expressed their frustration with protesters.

“You don’t even know what you are talking about,” said one woman to a man holding a sign.

One of the protesters apologised to those affected.

“Sorry to have disrupted your day, it was with good intentions … I hope it helps to understand why.”

Attendees brought pots and pans to bash during the march to make noise for Gaza. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The protest also featured chants calling for the death of Israeli soldiers and a sign comparing the Jewish state’s leader to the Nazi regime.

Pouring rain was not enough to disperse the hundreds of attendees, who released a cacophony by banging on pots and pans while waving Palestinian flags.

Starting at the State Library, crowds marched down Swanston St chanting “Death to the IOF” and “socialism now, sanctions now”.

IOF stands for “Israel Occupation Forces”, a derogatory term used by protesters to refer to the Israel Defence Forces.

A caucasian man with three children was also seen in a jacket reading “Death, death to the IDF”.

Posters branding Benjamin Netanyahu as a “crime minister” as well as comparing Israeli government ministers to Adolf Hitler and top Nazi officials were seen.

It comes just days after Victoria Police revealed they had received independent legal advice that the “Death to IDF” slogan was not an offence under the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act or the Crimes Act.

The leader of the march told the crowd their aim was to “disrupt” as much as possible.

Originally published as Ingrid Stitt defends right to protest after pro-Palestine activists send National Gallery of Victoria into lockdown