Are violent protests in Melbourne acceptable?

[faible]

I doubt you are right, but then again I respect the job our Police force does in what has to be the most challenging jurisdiction in the country.

It's not a black and white position.

I have respect for the many good police offers who do the right thing - as best they can - in challenging and often dangerous situations.

There's also absolutely some cops with pro-white nationalist views.

You pretending it's a scenario of either supporting everything or nothing is either disingenuous, or idiotic.

 

[Carn The Berries]

Who?

Heard of a bloke named Thomas Sewell?

Neo-Nazis used anti-immigration rallies to 'prey on legitimate concerns': Aly - ABC listen

Thousands of people have participated in the so called Marches for Australia across the nation's largest cities. There was also a clear neo-Nazi presence at several of the larger rallies, including in Melbourne where leader Thomas Sewell spoke on the steps of Victoria's Parliament House...

www.abc.net.au

 

[Spirit Level]

Why was there even an Israel vs Palestine protest in Melbourne.

This isn't our ****ing issue and our streets shouldn't be destroyed because of it.

Melbourne has a weird chip on it's shoulder at the moment.

 

[faible]

Why was there even an Israel vs Palestine protest in Melbourne.

This isn't our ****ing issue and our streets shouldn't be destroyed because of it.

Melbourne has a weird chip on it's shoulder at the moment.

The Australian Government still exports F-35 parts to Israel despite Israeli leadership being charged with multiple counts of war crimes and very likely having committed a genocide against the people of Gaza.

Australia keeping military exports to Israel flowing during Gaza war

The federal government has upheld dozens of military export permits to Israel, raising fresh questions about Australia's weapons transfers throughout the war in Gaza.

www.abc.net.au

As an Australian I'd say what my countries leadership is doing is within the purview of 'shit I should care about'.

Also, people can protest about whatever the hell they want. If enough people give a shit about a genocide going on, protest away. If enough people give a shit about neo-nazis protesting immigration to launch a counter-protest, protest away.

 

[10571z]

Seems like a protest in Melbourne weekly. Getting tiresome and the money we must be spending would be astronomical

 

[10571z]

Why was there even an Israel vs Palestine protest in Melbourne.

This isn't our ****ing issue and our streets shouldn't be destroyed because of it.

Melbourne has a weird chip on it's shoulder at the moment.

People were wanting a stronger response from our federal government against Israel to bring the war to an end.

 

[MPMonkeys]

Heard of a bloke named Thomas Sewell?

Neo-Nazis used anti-immigration rallies to 'prey on legitimate concerns': Aly - ABC listen

Thousands of people have participated in the so called Marches for Australia across the nation's largest cities. There was also a clear neo-Nazi presence at several of the larger rallies, including in Melbourne where leader Thomas Sewell spoke on the steps of Victoria's Parliament House...

www.abc.net.au

Was he an invited speaker?
Was he advertised as being a keynote speaker?

Seems to me he just randomly got up there.

The guy is a crackpot and a loser.

 

[MPMonkeys]

People were wanting a stronger response from our federal government against Israel to bring the war to an end.

They actually want the destruction of Israel which makes their claims of others being Nazi's very ironic.

 

[faible]

They actually want the destruction of Israel which makes their claims of others being Nazi's very ironic.

This is not what they want.

Get educated if you're going to comment.

 

[Gralin]

They actually want the destruction of Israel which makes their claims of others being Nazi's very ironic.

You should read about 1930s Germany if you think wanting the state of Israel to not exist is a Nazi position by default

 

[Festerz]

A reminder that it's not just a matter of cops acting legally against thug protesters.

But a matter of the police, due to them having special powers and weapons, acting judiciously without prejudice and within the parameters of the laws they are meant to enforce and uphold. Of keeping their personal politics and opinions in check under what are, admittedly, very difficult circumstances.

Because it's not difficult to imagine what might happen if things go wrong.

This from NSW today:

A NSW police officer will now face a second charge over the alleged assault of Hannah Thomas, who sustained a serious eye injury after she was arrested at a protest in June.

NSW police said the 33-year-old senior constable, who last month was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was on Wednesday also charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.

The new charge carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, and the maximum for the assault charge is five years’ imprisonment.

Thomas was arrested and charged alongside four others at a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney on 27 June that was attended by about 60 people at SEC Plating. Thomas, a former Greens candidate in the prime minister’s seat of Grayndler, was taken to hospital and underwent two rounds of surgery to her right eye. She will undergo a third at the end of this month.

Last month, prosecutors dropped all three charges against Thomas, who was later awarded more than $22,000 in legal costs. Charges were also dropped against three other protesters who were also awarded costs.

NSW police officer who allegedly assaulted former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas charged with grievous bodily harm

Senior constable will now face two charges, including grievous bodily harm which carries maximum penalty of 14 years

www.theguardian.com

 

[Cyg1992]

There were two groups of protestors. One was March for Australia who are described as far right. The counter group who resorted to violence were holding banners that said, 'Workers Unite to Fight the Right' and 'Unite to Fight the Right'. If they weren't "left motivated" what were they?

You post as though it is inconceivable that violent left wing protestors could exist.

One thing is clear - Melbourne needs a complete break from weekend protests. 2 years+ is too long. Of course under this government that will never happen because we have a God given right to protest enshrined in a Charter, the only STATE in Australia to do so.

2 plus years of protests? You poor baby
Imagine the people who are being carpet bombed and starved to death for 2 years because of a Biblical tale.

Maybe you should ask for bigger government and have your free speech restricted?

 

[Drought Break]

They weren't throwing rocks at the police.

And of course there may be very tenuous links - in any large crowd or gathering there are always going to be suspect people. There was probably a rapist or a murderer on both sides of the protest - that does not mean all the protestors are all rapists and murderers.

Are you saying that police used rubber bullets, flash bang grenades, tear gas and pepper spray without provocation?
Nobody had thrown rocks at them or set fire to bins or thrown broken bottles and other missiles at them first.
They just decided to let loose.

Thats a big accusation to make and if you have evidence then I suggest you go and see the Ombudsman.

Or a psychiatrist

 

[Carn The Berries]

Was he an invited speaker?
Was he advertised as being a keynote speaker?

Seems to me he just randomly got up there.

The guy is a crackpot and a loser.

What do either of those questions have to do with the implication that there was a racist element closely linked with the protest? Did he get booed by the crowd when he started spouting his vile rhetoric? Were there people condemning what he said (FYI - the answer to both of those questions is No).

You don't "randomly" get up to speak at the front of a major protest. Someone, with some level of authority/responsibility must have given it the green light. It's not like he ran up there and stole a microphone out of someone's hand.

 

[Carringbush2010]

Obviously Cheeseman is emotional.

Still doesn't excuse the inflammatory language though.

Irresponsible and inciteful.

Whether or not sewing division was the intent, which it probably wasn't but rather uncontained anger, there's certainly some division on here, probably on other social media as well.

Which makes it worse when the next protest and simultaneous counter protest takes place.

 

[QuietB]

This is perfectly cool and normal behaviour

 

[BomToydd]

This is perfectly cool and normal behaviour

So unhinged. Obviously doesn't believe in toothpaste
Scary when you think the next Dezi Freeman will be one of these guys
Also what's up with the little edgelord wearing gloves?

 

[Cyg1992]

This is perfectly cool and normal behaviour

Looks and carries on exactly how you'd expect him to.

Bet he recorded a good few car seat rants during the pandemic.

 

[CM86]

It used to be argued that forcing extremist ideologies into the shadows etc... was bad. Because it was the reason it would grow. Denying the spread of extremist ideologies was the problem...
Freeze Peach and all that.

Now as it's been allowed out of the shadows, and we've seen the rapid growth, we've seen the defence change repeatedly.


Until we are now at the point of arguing that counter protesting these things... is the problem.

It's just bullshit. It's always been bullshit.

 

[Sttew]

It turns out it was an extreme left group behind the violent protest - Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (CARF). The group met at Melbourne Uni to plot the protest, urging its people to throw bricks and rocks at Police.



PROTEST THUGS HAD A PLAN TO ATTACK POLICE

PROTEST THUGS HAD A PLAN TO ATTACK POLICE - Herald Sun

Thursday, Nov 6, 2025

 

[Sttew]

After the Adass synagogue fire bombing Jacinta Allan vowed in the strongest terms to outlaw protestors covering their faces with balaclavas and masks. This is what she said:

“We know they are being used to conceal identities, shield agitators from crowd control measures,” Ms Allan said.

"Face masks aren't a free pass to break the law."

Well that proved to be a fraudulent statement.

Today Cabinet is expected to pass law allowing protestors to conceal their identity by wearing masks. However, if Police have reasonable grounds to suspect wrongdoing they can ask a protestor to remove their mask. That will work well.

Can anyone explain why the government has backtracked? Why does a protestor need to conceal their face? Why is she protecting face mask wearing protestors?