Pro-Palestinian protesters are planning an economic blockade on April 15 at multiple locations in Melbourne, Australia.
This is part of a coordinated economic blockade to “free Palestine” that is scheduled for April 15 in cities across Australia, the United States, Canada, South Korea, Mexico City, and Columbia.
A Victorian Police spokesperson told The Epoch Times they respect the right for people to protest but are urging the organisers to reconsider actions that disrupt the economy and community.
In each city, the protestors plan to “identify and blockade” major choke points in the economy, to create maximum economic impact.
The global A15 Action protest page specifically mentions recent port shutdowns in Melbourne, Oakland, and California.
No Place to ‘Deliberately Disrupt and Cause Harm’: Victorian Police
While Victoria police said they respect people’s right to protest when it is lawful and peaceful, they said there is no place for anyone wanting to “deliberately disrupt and cause harm” in the community.
“As we have seen during recent disruptive protests, it is too often innocent people caught up and unfairly impacted when roads and intersections are blocked,” the spokesperson told The Epoch Times.
The police said blocking thoroughfares delays the vital work of emergency services responding to critical incidents, and prevents people from getting to work.
Victoria Police confirmed that they are preparing to respond to protest activity across Victoria on April 15.
“It is expected to involve a range of protest groups, none of which have provided the locations of the protests to Victoria Police,” the police said.
“As such, we have had to pull resources from a number of regional police stations, as well as specialist areas, in preparation for protests at numerous locations.”
The police are preparing to set up the state police operations centre, which will involve the mounted branch, public order response team, search and rescue squad, highway patrol, and transit police.
Protestors are promoting an economic blockade at a Dandenong South business they believe is supplying arms to Israel.
The group claims on Facebook that the business is profiting from the Middle East conflict and manufacturing the F35 countermeasure magazine.
Political Leaders Warn Against Anti-Semitism
The increased police presence comes amid Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s warning against the rise in anti-Semitism in Australia at a speech in Sydney on April 9.He claimed there had been a 738 percent rise in anti-Semitism incidents in Australia since protests at the Sydney Opera House on Oct. 7, 2023.
At least 1,200 people, including innocent Israeli civilians, were killed when Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Since then, more than 33,000 people in Gaza have died since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “we are at war.”
The terrorist group Hamas has still not released about 131 hostages, and about 33 of these are no longer alive, according to Israel.
During a speech at the Tom Hughes Oration in Sydney, Mr. Dutton said there has been a “failure of law enforcement to exercise its power” and a “failure of political leadership from those in power.”
“The anti-Semitism which has emerged in the wake of October 7 is of a magnitude and intensity unlike anything we have seen before in this country,” Mr. Dutton said.
“The events at the Sydney Opera House—and subsequent incidents—have laid bare an anti-Semitic rot afflicting our nation, our society, and our institutions. Indeed, Australia is not the only democracy beset by this alarming rot.”
However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also raised concerns about anti-Semitism and “social disharmony” in recent times.
Mr. Albanese described anti-Semitism as a “scourge” and noted it was rising across the country.
“Well, anti-Semitism is a scourge, and it’s a scourge here in Victoria. It’s a scourge, unfortunately, on the rise around Australia. And I feel very much for the Jewish community who are suffering from this,” Mr. Albanese said.
Mr. Albanese said targeting businesses just because they happen to be owned by someone who is Jewish is a “disgrace.”
The prime minister said he has been a long-term opponent of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.
“We know what the Star of David being put above shops leads to. It happened in Germany in the 1930s. It should never happen,” he said.
