Police have withdrawn all charges against human rights advocate Hannah Thomas, who was violently arrested while attending a picket outside SEC Plating in Belmore, a company that reportedly provides plating services for component parts used in F-35 fighter jets, earlier this year.
The rally was part of a mass movement standing against genocide and in solidarity with Palestine.
Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson said, ‘Hannah Thomas was arrested in Belmore simply for attending a peaceful community rally against genocide. She was treated brutally by police, sustained serious injury and was charged under anti-protest laws that were never meant to be used against people standing for justice and human rights.
‘The withdrawal of these charges is very welcomed [and] is a clear admission that Hannah should never have been targeted in the first place. It now leaves many questions open about the entire police response,’ said Ms Higginson.
‘The police response that morning was an exercise of escalation, intolerance, unlawful exercise of force and powers and it was laced with impunity. A critical incident has been declared. While this means the police will investigate themselves about what happened, I have some confidence because the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission will oversee that investigation,’ she said.
‘The other people who were arrested alongside Hannah, peaceful and non-violent members of the community, still face charges as a result of standing alongside Hannah, Palestine and against genocide. Those charges should be withdrawn now too.
‘I also understand that the police officer responsible for the injuries inflicted on Hannah is still on duty, still being released into the community despite the assault he committed.’
Call to repeal anti-protest laws
MLC Sue Higginson went on say, ‘I am certain that the emboldened excessive police attitude that was present in their response to the peaceful protest that morning, and the days that followed, was fuelled by the NSW Labor government’s intolerance and tough on protests attitude and the draconian anti-protest laws.
‘The Minns Labor government passed new anti-protest laws earlier this year giving police more power to move on people exercising their democratic right to protest. This was a dangerous move, I warned the government in parliament that laws like these are unconstitutional and will result in police over stepping the line,’ said Ms Higginson.
‘A constitutional challenge has been heard in relation to these police powers and I understand the court will hand down its judgment soon.
“The Greens will always stand with the community on the side of justice and democracy. The people of NSW must be free to speak, march and protest without fear of arrest or prosecution. Hannah’s case shows exactly why these laws must be repealed,’ Ms Higginson said.
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