NSW Police are reviewing footage showing an officer pushing a woman at a pro-Palestine protest in Wollongong. The incident occurred as the woman stood in the path of a police vehicle during a picket against Bisalloy Steels' contracts with Israeli defense companies. Protesters allege police aggression.
NSW Police are reviewing footage showing an officer pushing a woman at a pro-Palestine protest in Wollongong. The incident occurred as the woman stood in the path of a police vehicle during a picket of Bisalloy Steels, a company with past contracts with Israeli defence firms. Protesters allege police aggression.
New South Wales has admitted to battery and false imprisonment of Hannah Thomas, a former Greens candidate, who was punched in the eye by a police officer during a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney. The state will pay her medical costs, but denies claims of malicious prosecution.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said he would discourage pro-Palestine protesters from using the chant "globalise the intifada" but warned against specifically outlawing the phrase or banning a planned protest in London on 16 May. His comments come after Labour leader Keir Starmer called for tougher action against marchers using the chant following last week's stabbing attack on two Jewish people in Golders Green. The Metropolitan Police already have a policy of arresting people who chant the phrase, while Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said any further action would await an ongoing review of protest laws by former DPP Ken Macdonald.
UK political leaders are debating the "globalise the intifada" chant used at pro-Palestine protests. Green Party leader Zack Polanski opposes outlawing the phrase, warning it would overly restrict freedom of speech, though he said he would not encourage people to use it. Labour leader Keir Starmer has called for tougher action against marchers using the chant following a stabbing attack on Jewish people in Golders Green last week. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said any ban would await an ongoing review of protest laws, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called for all pro-Gaza marches to be stopped.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said he would discourage pro-Palestine protesters from using the chant "globalise the intifada" but warned against specifically outlawing the phrase or banning a planned protest in London on 16 May. His comments come after Keir Starmer called for tougher action against marchers using the chant following an attack on Jewish people in Golders Green last week. The Metropolitan Police already have a policy of arresting people who chant the phrase. Polanski also reiterated his apology for sharing a post on X criticising police over the arrest of a suspect after two Jewish people were stabbed in Golders Green.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said he would discourage use of the phrase "globalise the intifada" on pro-Palestine marches but insists he is not interested in policing people's language. Speaking to the BBC, Polanski said he wants people to be more effective in their protests and can make their point without using controversial phrases. His comments come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer threatened to ban some pro-Palestine demonstrations and called for tougher action on language used on protest marches. The transport secretary Heidi Alexander meanwhile described Polanski's retweet of a post criticizing police after the Golders Green attack as "disgusting" and "absolutely abhorrent", saying he is not fit to lead a political party.
PM says there are instances in which he would support bans but organisers say this would ‘strike at root of free speech’Organisers of pro-Palestine marches have said Keir Starmer’s threat to ban some demonstrations opposing Israel’s actions in the Middle East will “strike at the root of free assembly and free speech” in the UK.On Saturday morning, the prime minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “there are instances” in which he would support stopping some pro-Palestine protests altogether. Continue reading...
