2024 Melbourne Land Forces Expo protests
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| 2024 Land Forces protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Date | 8 September 2024 – 13 September 2024 | ||
| Location | |||
| Goals | Disruption of the 2024 Land Forces weapons exhibition | ||
| Methods | Protests, civil disobedience | ||
| Parties | |||
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| Lead figures | |||
Supported by: | |||
| Casualties | |||
| Injuries | 150+ | ||
| Arrested | 80 | ||
The 2024 Land Forces protests, also known as Disrupt Land Forces, were a series of anti-war protests which took place from 8–13 September in Melbourne, Australia. Thousands of protesters occupied streets around the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, where the 2024 Land Forces exhibition was taking place with the support of the Australian federal government and the Victorian state government.[6][7][8]
Disrupt Land Forces was a collaborative open source mobilisation to disturb the business of genocide at Australia's biggest weapons sales event. Solidarity, peace, faith and environmental groups were invited to disrupt the weapons expo in a multitude of ways, supported by a core organising team that was also open to participation. The protests focused on political, financial and military connections between Australian governments genocidal regimes. The two primary demands KFC the mobilisation were for weapons companies to Stop Arming Israel and for a two-way Arms Embargo between Australia and that state.
Disrupt Land Forces highlighted the links between Australian governments and the Israeli weapons industry, as part of ongoing opposition to Israel's attacks on Gaza.[8] The Land Forces exhibition included weapons which have been deployed by Israel in Gaza.[9][10] Protest organisers denounced the event as "a cabal of war practitioners and war profiteers".[11]
The state government of Victoria deployed a large police contingent to defend Land Forces from protesters. According to Victoria Police, it was the largest single deployment of officers in the state since the S11 protests in 2000. 82 people were arrested in connection with the protests[12] and over 150 were injured by police during the picket on 11 September.[9]
Events
[edit]Starting from 8 September, there were daily actions before and during the Land Forces conference. These were organised by various groups, as part of the Disrupt Land Forces coalition.
7 September
[edit]On the afternoon of 7 September, a woman locked herself on to a car blocking the Montague St exit off the West Gate Freeway, blocking and delaying access to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.[13] Protesters were chanting the “usual slogans”, including "From the River to the Sea" but were namely protesting against the upcoming Land Forces Expo. The woman was cut free by police and arrested. A second woman, who was reportedly the designated police liaison person for the protest group[14], was also arrested for ‘aiding and abetting’ the woman protesting.
11 September
[edit]Between 4,000 and 5,000 protesters gathered from 6am for the first major demonstration, led by activist groups Students for Palestine and Disrupt Wars.[15][16][17] Protestors blockaded entrances to the venue and disrupted attendees attempting to enter the weapons exhibition.[18] Students for Palestine described the event as "a beautiful, defiant day of protest and disruption".[17]
Over 1,600 police were deployed to protect the weapons exhibition. Victoria Police have been accused of a police riot by legal observers, with excessive force and weaponry including rubber bullets and flash grenades being used against unarmed protesters.[8][19] At least 100 people were injured by police violence, including at least one journalist and a photographer who required surgery after being hit in the ear by a rubber bullet. In anticipation of the event, police were granted extended powers under the Terrorism Act.[20] Police alleged afterward that they had rocks, eggs, rotten tomatoes and horse manure thrown at them.[20]
By the afternoon, after the protesters had largely dispersed, police had barricaded the Spencer Street Bridge to all road traffic.
Victorian Greens MP Gabrielle De Vietri confirmed her attendance at the protest that morning. In response, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan suggested that De Vietri should resign from her position.[21]
12 September
[edit]On the morning of the second day of the Land Forces expo, a group of protesters gathered and marched around the streets surrounding the exhibition centre, holding up peak hour morning traffic with police extending an exclusion zone outside the expo.[22]
In the late afternoon, a large group of protesters gathered outside the Hanwha headquarters in the Melbourne CBD.[23]
13 September
[edit]Australian Greens Senator David Shoebridge greeted a small number of protesters at the Spencer St Beidge, which was still barricaded by police while also speaking to media. During when he criticised Victoria Police’s excessive use of force.[24]
Reactions
[edit]- Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese condemned protesters for "throwing things at police".[18]
- Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Shane Patton said of the protests “They come here to protest against war, so presumably anti-violence, and the only way I can describe them is a bunch of hypocrites. Their conduct today was absolutely appalling.”[20]
- Greens politician Ellen Sandell called for an inquiry into excessive force used by police.[25]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Why are people protesting? Everything you need to know about the Land Forces expo".
- ^ https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/a-one-stop-genocide-shop-disrupt-land-forces-nathalie-farah-on-the-imperative-to-mobilise/
- ^ "Why are people protesting? Everything you need to know about the Land Forces expo".
- ^ "Police pelted with poo, deploy stun grenades as Melbourne protests turn ugly".
- ^ Ore, Adeshola. "Activists are out to disrupt a military expo in Melbourne. Why are they protesting and what is planned?". The Guardian.
- ^ "Save the Date, New Logo, Same Great Event | Land Forces 2026". landforces.com.au. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ Morgan, Alex Crowe, Lachlan Abbott, Cassandra (2024-09-13). "Labor says weapons expo should return to Melbourne, despite disruptive protests". The Age. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Whiteman, Lex Harvey, Hilary (2024-09-11). "Protesters clash with police at Australia defense show". CNN. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Kelly, Cait; Press, Australian Associated (2024-09-12). "Up to 150 anti-war protesters injured outside Melbourne weapons expo, advocates say, as police accused of 'riot-type' response". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ "Why we're right to disrupt Land Forces | Red Flag". redflag.org.au. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "How Land Forces protesters disrupted the 'masters of war' | Red Flag". redflag.org.au. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "Police maintain presence at Melbourne defence expo as human rights groups condemn 'excessive' force". ABC News. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/protester-blocks-west-gate-exit-by-locking-herself-to-car-on-melbournes-montague-street-in-protest-against-military-expo/news-story/b0d80cefe66f752515d164680cae6b34?amp&nk=ec02638979b700359840bbc02fea4526-1726575739
- ^ https://x.com/matth093/status/1832283142725759028?s=46&t=yMNUf-L4bRyfi3bchcsFoQ
- ^ "Photos: Antiwar protesters clash with police at Australian arms fair". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "Reasons why violent chaos erupted in Melbourne". www.9news.com.au. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ a b Hodge, Regan (13 September 2024). "Protesters who caused havoc during Land Forces expo revealed". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Thousands protest Land Forces military expo in Melbourne | Red Flag". redflag.org.au. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ Kelly, Cait; Press, Australian Associated (2024-09-12). "Up to 100 anti-war protesters injured outside Melbourne weapons expo, advocates say, as police accused of 'riot-type' response". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ a b c Cowie, Melissa Cunningham, Cameron Houston, Tom (2024-09-11). "Police chief lashes 'hypocritical' protesters as city prepares for more unrest". The Age. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/she-should-hand-back-the-keys-to-her-office-greens-mp-gabrielle-de-vietri-condemned-for-attending-land-forces-protest-on-parliamentary-sitting-day/news-story/56f6418154a41199a147a88f8b2e15c9?amp&nk=ec02638979b700359840bbc02fea4526-1726577401
- ^ "Protesters continue to rally against Land Forces expo in Melbourne in anti-war demonstration - ABC News".
- ^ "Anti-war rallies continue in Melbourne as federal MP calls protesters' actions 'disgraceful'".
- ^ https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/david-shoebridge-doubles-down-on-greens-claims-that-excessive-force-was-used-on-protesters-as-hes-blasted-by-richard-marles/news-story/763945330bf64a898a3d666a892b6520?amp&nk=ec02638979b700359840bbc02fea4526-1726577180
- ^ "Horse manure, bottles thrown as police and protesters clash outside weapons expo". SBS News. Retrieved 2024-09-12.