Image: Protests outside the defence expo at the MCEC on September 11, 2024. Image: Disrupt Land Forces.
A day after violent clashes erupted between police and protesters outside a defence expo in Melbourne, legal advocates condemned the excessive use of force by the police.
On Wednesday, over 1200 demonstrators converged outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, which is hosting the three-day Land Forces International’s Land Defence Exposition. Over 50 community organisations came together under the banner of Disrupt Land Forces, with the objective of “ending the genocide in Palestine and preventing future genocides”.
On Wednesday, Victoria Police arrested around 42 persons after violent protests. Around 50-100 protesters were reportedly injured during the violent confrontation between police and protesters on the streets outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Twenty-seven police personnel required medical assistance. On day two of the protests on Thursday, a smaller group of protesters demonstrated in the Melbourne CBD. Five people were arrested on Thursday.
Police Defend Use Of Force
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton in a press conference on Wednesday defended the use of “non-lethal weapons” against the protesters, claiming they were “appropriately deployed”.
Patton said officers were subjected to abuse, police had “low-level acid” and other things thrown at them and police horses were punched by some protesters.
“The policing we observed (on Wednesday) was so grossly excessive that we struggle to comprehend any legal justification available to defend the violence, misuse of weaponry, and mass injury caused by Victoria Police. The size, nature, or political context of a protest does not change Victoria Police’s obligations to act lawfully,” a MLAS spokesperson said in a statement.
The group said its observers witnessed police deploying pepper spray at people moving away from police lines and use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs.
Community Anger Erupts On Streets
MALS said its observers noted “chaotic behaviour of many protesters, which included in some circumstances, objects being thrown at or over police lines, yelling and abuse, the setting alight of a bin, and some physical assaults by protesters against attendees attempting to enter the MCEC.”
“The behaviour of individual protesters does not justify excessive force against others nor the use of force against entire crowds. The size, nature, or political context of a protest does not change the obligations upon the police to act lawfully,” MALS spokesperson said, calling for an independent investigation of Wednesday’s policing operation.
Disrupt Land Forces in a statement said that demonstrators were successful in delaying the VIP breakfast and the opening of the Land Forces expo on Wednesday morning.
Caroline Da Silva, spokesperson for Disrupt Land Forces, said the demonstrators were “expressing community anger in the only way that is available to us – on the streets.”
“The genocide in Gaza, atrocities in West Papua, slavery in Congo, forced starvation in Sudan are all a result of militarism. The anti-militarist movement on this continent has grown and matured very rapidly since Israel’s attacks on Gaza began,” Da Silva said.
“We will never give up on Gaza, because we feel the truth of the slogan ‘We Are All Palestinians’,” added Da Silva.
Disrupt Land Forces said its protests will continue on the final day of the Expo, with a rave at Dockland Park on Friday, September 13. “Let’s go out in style!” the group posted on social media.
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