Drop the charges, protect the right to demonstrate.

We, the undersigned organisations, condemn the mass arrests carried out by police against activists who protested the Land Forces weapons convention from 10-14 September, 2024. More than 110 people have now been charged for taking part in the protests. The mass anti-war demonstration on 11 September drew more than 2,500 people and was coordinated by a diverse array of collectives and groups to take a stand against the convention, which used taxpayer funds to bring weapons manufacturers into the heart of Melbourne, including Israeli firms Raphael and Elbit Systems. 

On the day, protesters were met with such extreme violence that the Greens Party of Victoria and Melbourne Activist Legal Service (MALS) have called for an independent inquiry into the use of force during Land Forces. Since the convention, police have systematically trawled through footage from the demonstrations to find anything they can possibly charge protesters for. They have produced “wanted” lists with the faces of activists, and have raided the homes of many without warrants. Protesters are being charged with a wide array of offences including hindrance, obstruction of roads, obstruction of police, and affray. One young man had twelve police visit his house and beat on his doors and windows, before arresting him for obstruction.

It’s clear that Victoria Police are using mass arrests as a tactic to intimidate protesters, and to politically press back on the Palestine movement in general. This is an affront to the right to protest, and a serious attack on civil liberties. 

We call for all charges against those exercising their democratic right to protest be dropped. We echo calls for an independent inquiry into the use of force by police against the demonstrators, and affirm that the right to demonstrate is protected by the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (VIC) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).