Pro-Palestine activists and supporters of civil liberties rallied at Melbourne's Magistrates Court on May 1 to defend the right to protest and defend the Max Brenner 19.
On July 1, 2011, the Victorian police attacked a peaceful pro-Palestine demonstration in Melbourne’s CBD. In one of the largest political arrests in a decade, 19 activists were arrested during a boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) action against Israeli-owned Max Brenner store.
The chocolate chain is owned by the Israeli conglomerate ‘Strauss group’; a company that provides “care rations” for the Israeli military, including the Golani and the Givati brigades – two of the key Israeli military brigades involved in Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza in December 2008/January 2009, which killed more than 1300 Palestinians.
Speakers argued that the arrestees will be put on trial for their political activity. In a precedent setting case — these pro-Palestine activists will be fighting a variety of charges designed to criminalise dissent in Baillieu's Victoria.
In charging activists with trespass the Victorian police and the Ballieu government are attempting to criminalise the right to protest against corporations.
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