Activists celebrated a major victory for the right to demonstrate in Melbourne on July 23 after a magistrate dismissed charges against the Max Brenner 19. On July 1 last year, 19 Palestine solidarity activists were arrested at a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions protest outside a Max Brenner chocolate shop in Melbourne’s QV Square shopping centre. The protest called on Max Brenner to end its ties with the Israeli military.
The court verdict rejected police charges of besetting and trespassing in a public place and confirms the legal right to protest in a public place. A rally to Reclaim Public Squares from Corporate Control will take place at QV Square on July 27 at 5:30pm.