Peaceful Protesters “Brutally” Attacked By Police In Western Sydney
Multiple people have been arrested and a woman has undergone surgery after NSW Police violently attacked peaceful protestors in Sydney this morning.
A group of protesters arrived to peacefully picket weapons company SEC Plating in Belmore at around 6am on Friday morning.
SEC Plating is reportedly involved in providing plating services for parts used in F-35 jets. Israel’s fleet of F-35 rely on the global supply chain and supplement supply from countries like Australia in their continued genocide against Palestine.
Legal Observers NSW, who monitor and report on police action at protests across the state, allege police issued a move on order on the basis that the location of the picket would cause “fear and alarm”, and that the protest was “unauthorised”.
Police arrested those complying with the move on order, before scenes quickly turned violent.
In footage witnessed by CityHub, police officers can be seen tackling people to the ground, while others drag a woman calling out for help. An officer drags her away from the crowd by her neck, ignoring calls from picketers to “let go of her, please”. When they finally do release her, she doubles over, violently coughing for air.
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A 35-year-old woman tackled to the pavement was left with serious facial injuries and underwent emergency surgery to her eye this afternoon.
Towards the end of another video, one officer shines the light of his torch directly into the camera, obscuring footage being captured.
Images seen by Senator David Shoebridge and Sue Higginson MLC show the extent of the injuries experienced.
Greens MP and NSW Justice Spokesperson Sue Higginson said the actions of the NSW Police could only be described as “brutal and excessive”.
“There is a significant question about the lawfulness of what they have done to members of the community exercising their rights of assembly this morning,” she said.
“I have spoken with the people in police custody this morning, in my legal capacity, and they can not believe what they saw happen to the individual who has sustained serious injury as a result of the excessive police force.”
Minns “cannot arrest his way though community” protester says
In a media release this afternoon, NSW Police confirm five people were arrested this morning, and that one “35 year old woman sustained facial injuries and was taken to Bankstown Hospital for treatment.”
“As police attempted to arrest the protesters who were not complying with the directions, a scuffle ensued between police and protesters, during which a police body worn camera was taken by an unknown protester,” NSW Police said.
Peter O’Brien Lawyers have been engaged to represent the community member that was assaulted, along with other members of the community who were arrested and were held in custody today after witnessing the assault.
Organising group Pride In Protest allege police also conducted an illegal strip search, forcing a person to undress, outside and without privacy, in 6 degree winter weather.
“The State of NSW, and Premier Chris Minns, cannot arrest their way through community who are engaging in legitimate political expression against genocide,” said Rising Tide organiser Zach Schofield, who was also arrested.
“I witnessed the brutal assault against a community member this morning, someone who was lawfully expressing themselves in public, and it was sickening.”
The incident comes as the Minns government continues its controversial expansion of anti-protest laws.
“This morning is not isolated, we have seen a disturbing pattern of increased politically motivated violence from police against people peacefully protesting genocide,” said Shoebridge.
“Anyone watching knows it’s wrong that police are violently arresting those calling for an end to genocide while simultaneously protecting the companies who profit from the killing.”
Higginson said Premier Minns had to answer for the police targeting of community members taking a stand against genocide.
“If the NSW Police feel empowered to violently and brutally assault members of the community engaging in lawful and legitimate protest, then it is the responsibility of our democratic Government to call this out, and to act to protect protest,” she said.
“This news this morning is part of a wider trend in NSW towards an authoritarian state, where the NSW Police are deployed against innocent people with the intent to chill and intimidate people who are exercising what should be an guaranteed right to all people living in a democracy – the right to protest and express political expression free from state violence.”
Deputy Greens Leader, Dr Mehreen Faruqi posted a statement on social media about the incident this morning.
“I am disgusted by reports of extreme police violence against peaceful protesters in Belmore today. The right to protest is fundamental in any democracy — and police are not above the law.
“The Minns Government has repeatedly undermined our civil liberties and vilified pro-Palestine, anti-genocide protesters.
“Today’s events are a direct result of that dangerous political approach, and this Labor Government must be held accountable.”
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