Protest at court as Minns and police refuse to drop Herzog charges

Stop the War on Palestine will rally at 1pm Thursday 11 June, outside the Downing Centre Court at 143 Liverpool St in the Sydney CBD, to demand that all the Herzog protest charges be dropped and justice for those injured by police at the protest against the genocidal Israeli President in February.

Twenty-nine people still face charges in relation to the Herzog protest despite Chris Minns’ anti-protest laws being struck down in the NSW Supreme Court. All those still facing charges will have court dates on 11 June.

Speakers include:

• Tim Roberts, NSW Council for Civil Liberties
• Anny Mokotow, Global Sumud Flotilla participant and member of Jews Against the Occupation ’48 & Loud Jew Collective
• Adam Adelpour, Stop the War on Palestine spokesperson
• Sienna Hopper, protester charged in relation to the Herzog rally
• Sue Higginson, NSW Greens MLC

Stop the War on Palestine spokesperson Adam Adelpour said, “Minns’ laws have been struck down and the brutal police operation against the Herzog protest has been stripped of its legal foundation. All the charges must be dropped now.  

“Minns and police are maintaining these charges in an attempt to justify their violent, anti-democratic, unconstitutional actions in support of the war criminal Israeli President Isaac Herzog on 9 February.”

Legal Observers NSW have issued a statement expressing concern that the charges are preventing evidence being submitted to the LECC inquiry into police conduct at the February 9 protest against the Israeli President. Police may obtain footage that is submitted to LECC which would enable it to potentially be used as evidence against those charged.

Adelpour continued, “Opposition to the disgraceful decision to maintain these charges grows by the day. The NSW Council of Civil Liberties and Civil Liberties Defence Centre have launched a major open letter demanding all the charges from the Herzog rally be dropped. 146 advocacy groups and civil society organisations have signed, alongside 2430 individuals.

“Israel is a terror state that has admitted to slaughtering over 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza. It has been added to the U.S. blacklist for sexual violence in conflict zones and has just closed land crossing into Gaza cutting off aid, another vile act of collective punishment. Israel must face comprehensive sanctions.” 

Adelpour finished by saying, “Minns and Albanese are continuing their complicity with Israel’s crimes so our resistance will continue. There have now been reports of explosives being exported to Israel from Australian factories via the United States.

“Australia sends F-35 parts, armoured steel from Bisalloy and intelligence from the Pine Gap spy base to Israel. Stop the War on Palestine will be joining the national convergence to protest Pine Gap Spy Base on July 18,19 and 20 to take the fight to the heart of Australia’s complicity with Israel and Trump’s military killing machine.”

For media comment contact Stop the War on Palestine spokesperson Adam Adelpour on (enable JavaScript to view phone number).