Protesters' morale 'high' as anti-war rally blocks Bisalloy workers

About 1000 people will have attended a 72-hour pro-Palestinian protest outside of Unanderra business Bisalloy Steel by its close tomorrow, an advocate for Palestinian rights said.

“This is one of the biggest pickets and longest standing pickets that we've had. And it has been quite successful," Wollongong Friends of Palestine spokesperson Safaa Rayan said this morning.

Up to 50 police officers, including local and Sydney riot squad personnel, have been on-site at times.

The current Wollongong Friends of Palestine rally started on Sunday night and will be staged until Wednesday morning (June 17).

About 6am on Monday, a 24-year-old female protester, who allegedly assaulted a police officer, was arrested.

In a statement, NSW Police said: "She was arrested and taken to Oak Flats Police Station where she was charged with hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty and assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm."

The woman was granted conditional bail to appear before Port Kembla Local Court on July 15.

The group’s ongoing site actions – which are aimed at preventing workers from entering the premises and so disrupting steel production – are in protest of what they say is Bisalloy Steel’s supply of armoured steel exports to Israel during the war in Gaza. This is their 10th protest staged outside of Bisalloy.

By 9am today, the group claimed in a statement that they had prevented five shift changes since the start of the community picket.

Safaa Rayan said morale among protesters was “pretty high”.

“We've held the picket line, and we're holding the picket line. And they thought that if they arrest someone and they assault somebody else, that we would all crumble and go home. But that's not the case, that’s not what happened. 

“We haven't been scared off. We’ve managed to hold the picket line. We've managed to keep sending our message to Bisalloy: you need to divest from that 2 percent. Or we will continue picketing and returning until you do.”

Safaa said the group plans to extend the duration of upcoming protests if needed after this action.

“People come and go throughout the day, so I think about a thousand people actually will, all up, come through in 72 hours. 

“We're feeling confident and we're feeling happy. And it is almost 8 o’clock (am) and they still haven't rolled their workers' bus in, so I think we've successfully shut down another shift.”

Safaa said interactions between protesters and police officers were generally positive.

“Wollongong Police tend to give and take and discuss with us. These riot police, they're not from the Illawarra. This is Sydney police doing what they do best. We saw what they did in February, and they're trying to replicate that here, but I think because they are guided by Wollongong Police, they're being told to deescalate.”

Bisalloy said in a statement:

"Bisalloy is an Australian manufacturer that makes various types of specialty steel. Our products are sold both in Australia and internationally and always with the appropriate government approvals. Bisalloy Protection & Defence steel plate is used in applications that provide protection for people, property and valuables and does not manufacture steel products for the use in bullets, missiles, or similar weapons. 

"Bisalloy respects the right of peaceful protest, and we are again grateful for the work of the NSW Police.

"Bisalloy remains committed to operating responsibly, supporting local employment, and contributing to the Illawarra community."

The anti-war rally at Bisalloy’s Unanderra premises is scheduled to wind down on Wednesday morning (June 17).