Pro-Palestinian Activists Face Trial for Protest in Australia
Pro-Palestine activists will face trial on May 1 for their "political activity" in Australia's Melbourne.
On July 1, 2011, the Victoria Police attacked a peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstration in Melbourne's Central Business District (CBD). The police detained 19 activists during a boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) gathering against the Max Brenner store, owned by the "Israeli" Strauss Group company. The said company provides "care rations" for the "Israeli" military, including the Golani and the Givati brigades, both of which were involved in the brutal 2008-2009 "Israeli" aggression on the Gaza Strip, the Socialist Alternative reported.
After the mass-protest in July 1, the police started individually targeting activists in unprovoked attacks.
One of the arrested activists, Damian Ridgwell, told Electronic Intifada about his arrest experience, saying, "I was dragged behind police lines. Once they grabbed me and started dragging me, I went limp and dropped to the ground... As I was being carried through the corridors of the loading dock, I lost consciousness because one of the police had me in a choke hold. I am not sure how long I was out, probably a few minutes. I woke up on the loading dock floor and heard the police saying I was "out"."
Apparently there is a broad campaign to counter any sign of pro-Palestine activism.
On this level, the Australian Protection Party (APP) and the Australian Defense League (ADL) organized counter-demonstrations to the pro-Palestine protests in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
"The increasingly brutal actions of "Israel" against the Palestinians fit neatly with the hysterical anti-Muslim campaigns by the APP and the ADL," said the report by the Australian Socialist Alternative.
Signs of anti-Palestinian collusions have been reflected in attempts to criminalize all pro-Palestinian activities on the international level.
On this level, the Victoria Police confirmed, during a bail hearing at the district's court after the July 1 arrests, that the decision to arrest the protesters was made before the mass-demonstration took place. In precise, the decision was made after a meeting between the police, Zionist organizations, the Victorian government, shopping center managements and that of Max Brenner.
In addition, the report asserted that currently, hundreds of pro-Palestine activists are facing criminal charges for taking part in peaceful demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinian human rights in various countries like the US, France, and Greece.
Source: Socialist Alternative, Edited by moqawama.org
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