Protesters in Melbourne have reportedly thrown rocks and poop at police officers at a rally outside a controversial military expo.
The Land Forces Expo showcases almost 1,000 exhibitions from 31 different countries, and will run from September 11-13.
“The Land Forces 2024 International Land Defence Exposition is the premier platform for interaction between defence, industry and government of all levels, to meet, do business and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the global land defence markets,” the event description reads.
More than 25,000 people are expected to attend the rally against the Land Forces Defence Expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday to protest and call for an “end to all weapons exports to states engaged in genocide and militarised repression”.
“We unequivocally oppose the glorification of death, destruction, and genocide being carried out with weapons developed on this continent and showcased at Land Forces,” the Disrupt Land Forces activist group said in an open letter.
“From Palestine to West Papua, these companies facilitate murder, displacement, land desecration and colonisation in the name of western imperialist interests.”
A clash between police and protesters reportedly broke out earlier on Wednesday morning, with footage showing horse manure being thrown towards mounted police and at least one person tugging on a police horse’s bridle.
Police responded with pepper spray and batons, and have been granted “special powers” to patrol the area near the exhibition centre under the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act.
“This is expected to be our largest operation since the World Economic Forum in 2000,” a Victoria Police spokesman said of the police presence in the area.
Heightened police powers will run until 11.59pm on September 15.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has slammed protesters for disrespecting police.
“People have a right to protest peacefully,” Albanese told Seven this morning.
“But you don’t say you’re opposed to defence equipment by throwing things at police. They’ve got a job to do, and our police officers should be respected at all times.”
Greens Leader Adam Bandt defended protesters, but urged them to be peaceful.
“What people are protesting about here is an end to the escalation of war, of starting to treat weapons manufacturing now as somehow an inherent good [is wrong],” Bandt told ABC Radio National.
“My message is always twofold. One is that protests should be peaceful, and secondly is that people, including the media, need to pay attention to what people are protesting about and in this instance, people are protesting against proliferation of weapons of war.”
A number of arrests have been made on Wednesday morning, including one woman who allegedly spat at police.
Lead image: X/@greenleftonline / Sunrise
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