Image: Vivienne Moore, one of the peaceful protestors that was arrested. Image: Supplied
by GRACE JOHNSON
Three peaceful protestors were aggressed and forcefully removed at a Sydney Palestine protest yesterday over an incident involving food dye.
Outrage has spread throughout the community following videos of NSW Police violently removing protestors at a die-in demonstration, three of whom where then taken to Surry Hills Police Station.
One of the arrestees was young Queers for Palestine protestor Aiden Magro, who was observed being violently thrown to the ground by police.
In a video widely circulated online, Mr Magro appeared to lose consciousness, with a police officer then putting a knee on his back.
His mother, Julie Threadgold, was not allowed to see him for the four hours he was detained at Surry Hills Police Station.
“I have watched my son and other peaceful protestors being assaulted by police officers again and again and the police are never held accountable,” said Ms Threadgold.
“It has to stop.”
Two other peaceful protestors, Ms Vivenne Moore and Mr Edward Reid, were also arrested.
Witnesses have also alleged that police “manhandled a very pregnant woman, pulling her up roughly”.
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Months of protests
At the time of the aggressive police behaviour, protestors were engaging in a peaceful ‘die-in’, adjacent to the weekly rallies.
Participants lay on the ground and wore white clothes splattered with red food dye to represent Palestinian victims of Israeli violence.
Die-ins have been a regular part of the peaceful protests for months, most recently in front of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate office in Marrickville.
The three arrestees were released around 8.30pm, each with charges of ‘assault police officer in execution of duty’ and ‘intentionally or recklessly destroy/damage property’.
It is believed that both these charges relate to the spray bottles of red food dyed–water.
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