Protest group’s vow in face of court order
Written by admin on October 3, 2024
Pro-Palestine protesters have vowed to go ahead with a vigil on October 7 despite NSW police attempting to stop the event.
Sydney pro-Palestine protest organiser Josh Lees confirmed the vigil would go ahead regardless of an application put forth by police to the NSW Supreme Court to stop it, as well as a protest planned for October 6.
Mr Lees told ABC RN the protests have been held for 51 consecutive weeks, with no sign of stopping.
“We’re certainly not going to stop now, especially as Israel’s genocide in Gaza continues,” Mr Lees said.
“And now they are starting an invasion of Lebanon.”
Speaking of the vigil planned outside Town Hall on Monday night, Mr Lees said many “have lost family”.
“It’s a chance for Palestinian and Lebanese people to come and grieve for the thousands of people who have died and for their loved ones,” he said.
“We have many people who have lost family.”
He also encouraged people not to bring Hezbollah flags as they could be “deemed illegal”.
He also said while he “personally would not fly (the Hezbollah) flag”, there is “no discussion of banning the Israeli flag”.
“I don’t politically agree with Hezbollah, but we defend people’s right to hold pieces of cloth,” he said.
“There’s no discussion of banning the Israeli flag, whereas that is a state that’s actually carried out far greater acts of terrorism and is right now starting another war on Lebanon, the fourth invasion of Lebanon in Israel’s history.
“So we should have some perspective when we’re talking about Hezbollah and flags about what’s really going on.”
NSW Police lodged an application to stop the events with the state’s highest court on Wednesday afternoon.
The matter was the subject of a hastily-arranged mention in the state’s highest court on Wednesday afternoon, where it was set down for a hearing on Thursday.
The court was told that up to seven witnesses will be called by both sides during the proceedings on Thursday afternoon.
NSW Premier Chris Minns earlier stood by the police’s decision, claiming it was a “difficult” but “right decision under the circumstances”, according to The Daily Telegraph.
“Many people have been attending these Palestinian marches not because they’re supporters of terrorist organisations like Hamas or Hezbollah,” Mr Minns said.
“They have been attending these protests because they’re concerned about Palestinian rights, they’re concerned about civilians dying as the result of military operations in Gaza or they want a ceasefire.
“It was a difficult decision but we believe the right decision under the circumstances.”
Mr Minns said “violent or illegal behaviour” cannot “spill(s) out onto the streets of Sydney for the one-year anniversary”.
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“We saw it days after the 7th October events down at the Opera House (last year),” he said.
“It was terrible for Sydney, it inflamed community disharmony.
“The organisers of the protest weren’t responsible for the actions down at the Opera House but it gave everybody a bad name … and I’m sorry but we have to prevent and take action to make sure we don’t see a repeat of that.”
