The serene and peaceful Mullum2Bruns Paddle Event last week appears to have descended into scuffles and threats over the contentious relationship between Palestine and Israel.
Byron Friends of Palestine member Gareth Smith told Echonetdaily that their placards and banners were ‘ripped apart and chucked into the river’ by men who issued threats of violence.
Local police told The Echo they are investigating claims of the stolen banners and placards at the recent event.
Mr Smith took part in the event and sailed a flotilla decorated with Free Palestine messages into Brunswick Heads. Vic Alhadeff, CEO of the NSW Board of Jewish Deputies and Chair of Keep NSW Safe, told Echonetdaily he was unaware of the incident but, ‘such violence is unacceptable.’
Gareth Smith should leave his anti Semitism at home and not politicise a Community Event.
I didnt throw them in the river i threw them in the bin. This amazing family event will not be political. I love this amazing town. I am a believer in world peace and anyone that genuinly knows me would agree. Lots of love Jase from The Big Fish
Gareth Smith is pro semite including Arabs Christians and Jews. What better place to support human rights for Palestinians than at a community event? See https://www.facebook.com/notes/ian-cade/israels-100-year-war-of-occupation/750386995126708/
Your FaceBook article is written under the pretext of being about human rights, but it is actually a diatribe of pro-Palestinian propaganda that is chock full of lies, distortions, errors, anti-semitism and miscellaneous fakery.