The Wollongong-based Friends of Palestine say they won't be bullied into abandoning their fortnightly rallies in the city mall, following claims of "intimidation" and "harassment" by NSW Police at their latest gathering.
Former Wollongong Citizen of the Year, Sally Stevenson, who spent time in Gaza last year on a humanitarian mission, described the actions of police as "disgusting and sickening".
"Is this the new NSW Government strategy to shut down anti-genocide protests?"
Wollongong's Friends of Palestine have been rallying in the centre of Wollongong for the past 21 months with "absolutely no history of violence", Sally said.
On the afternoon of Saturday, June 28, about 50 protestors had gathered at the mall's central stage to hear speeches and chant their support for the people of Gaza caught up in the current conflict with Israel.
Therese Wolfe said typically four or five local police officers would attend the rally in a supervisory role.
Therese said she was "stunned" as the speeches were coming to a close when about 30 police, including members of the riot squad and the Raptor Squad and four police on horseback, walked down to the mall "and surrounded us".
'We felt fear and intimidation'
"They walked to the front and were standing there in that intimidating fashion with their arms folded and feet apart," Therese said.
"We felt fear and intimidation. Shoppers who were walking through the mall must have had the impression that these people are dangerous, or we should be feared because we need that many police to be controlled.
"We are peaceful protestors. We have families with children at our rallies."
Therese said a Muslim woman who was at the rally "felt really scared" by the police show of force. "She started shaking. She didn't feel safe, and she left the mall."
The protest rally usually ends with a short march down the mall to Crown Street under the watch of local police to ensure traffic isn't disrupted. At the latest rally, Therese said police behaved very differently.
A feeling of chaos
"One officer was shouting 'go, go, go' to the police who ran ahead and blocked us, striking fear and panic. It was just a chaotic feeling of not knowing what was going to happen.
"We felt very intimidated and fearful of those male officers. We felt targeted. We are peaceful and we've been doing this for 21 months with no trouble. We have had a very good relationship with the local police."
Another Friend of Palestine, Natalie Moran, described the behaviour of police as "appalling and so unnecessary".
"It just seemed like a group of people came along on Saturday to cause trouble. They just happened to be in uniform," Natalie said.
"There were members of the riot squad there who just seemed intent on provoking a reaction. Children who were there left the rally in tears and they certainly didn't see the police at that time as their protectors."
Protest was 'unauthorised'
In a statement, NSW Police said they responded that afternoon "following notification of an unauthorised protest".
"Officers attached to Wollongong Police with assistance from the NSW Police Mounted Unit and specialist officers responded and closed Keira St between Market St and Burelli St, Wollongong for safety reasons.
"NSW Police prepared an operational response to the unauthorised protest and increased patronage in the CBD, due to an event at WIN Stadium.
"Officers issued two move-on orders which were complied with. No arrests were made," the police statement concluded.
One of the protest organisers, Jet Hunt, said "in NSW we have an inalienable right to demonstrate" with or without formal approval.
She said the organisers submitted a Form One application three days before the rally on Wednesday, 25 June and "police acknowledged receipt of our application the following day".
Application was four days late
A NSW Police spokesperson said the rally was deemed to be "unauthorised" because the requirement was for a seven-day notification period.
Jet said there had been a number of occasions in the past where the Wollongong protests had gone ahead after the late lodgement of an application or, on some occasions, no application at all.
"The spectacle looked absurd," Jet said. "The idea that police bring four officers on horseback, the riot police and Raptor Squad to Wollongong because people didn't fill in a piece of paper is just wild.
"We see this as a systemic issue, where they're using sheer numbers to menace and harass a small group of people who gather peacefully on a regular basis to protest the genocide that's happening in Gaza.
"It's an attempt to intimidate the Free Palestine movement out of existence."
Organisers say despite the events of last weekend they will continue their fortnightly rallies. The next will start at 2pm in Wollongong Mall on Saturday, July 12.
