Judge shuts down Palestine protest over ‘risks’
Police are vowing to arrest or charge protestors on Sunday if they disobey a Brisbane judge’s decision.
Source: AAP
Queensland Police have vowed to arrest or charge pro-Palestine protesters if they unlawfully block traffic on a major Brisbane bridge after a magistrate denied legal protection for a proposed march.
Chief Magistrate Janelle Brassington ruled that Sunday’s planned march by up to 10,000 people across the Story Bridge would be declared an unauthorised protest.
“I’m satisfied [that Queensland Police] has established there is a real and significant risk to persons in this case given the proposed route,” she said on Thursday.
Brassington said the planned protest was not unlawful but participants would have no protection against being criminally charged for actions such as obstructing traffic.
Rally organiser Remah Naji said outside court that marchers would still gather at their planned starting point in a nearby park.
“The plan is still to go ahead with a peaceful assembly … we are considering our options at this stage,” she said.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said police would act to protect the safety of the community and maintain access for emergency vehicles to the major arterial road crossing the Story Bridge.
“We have to make it quite clear that anyone participating in a protest which is not authorised faces the prospect of enforcement action being taken against them, whether that’s on the day or post-event,” he said.
“There are a range of offences that are open to investigators to utilise, and we will have a significant policing presence this weekend to manage whatever response the protest organisers wish to take.”
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Wildman urged Justice for Palestine to stay in contact with the police major events unit.
Justice for Palestine Magan-djin proposed the rally as part of Sunday’s nationwide day of action, which has been billed as the largest pro-Palestine demonstration in Australia’s history.
It follows a similar day of protest that drew an estimated 90,000 protesters to walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge three weeks ago.
Organisers were still considering a court appeal to authorise the march, Naji said.
-AAP
