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Police Brutality Unleashed on Pro-Palestinian Protesters in Sydney

  • Human Rights Research Center
  • Jul 1
  • 3 min read

July 1, 2025


HRRC strongly condemns the brutal police violence against peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters in Sydney, which resulted in serious injuries and arrests. HRRC demands accountability and protection of human rights, including the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression.

Protesters at the previous SEC Plating picket on June 17, 2025. [Image credit: Weapons Out of the West]
Protesters at the previous SEC Plating picket on June 17, 2025. [Image credit: Weapons Out of the West]

A peaceful protest outside the SEC Plating factory in Belmore district, Sydney, Australia, became violent when New South Wales (NSW) police officers attacked and battered pro-Palestinian activists, leaving one woman with significant facial injuries and detaining several individuals.


The Weapons Out of the West group organized the protest in order to expose SEC Plating's alleged role in the global arms industry supply chain, including the production of F-35 fighter aircraft used by Israel in its ongoing genocide in Gaza.


Eyewitnesses described the police response as "brutal and excessive," with officers tackling individuals walking along the footpath to the ground and dragging one person on the concrete. A police officer was seen placing their hands around a person's neck, causing them to stop breathing for about a minute and resulting in serious bruising.


Hannah Thomas, a Greens candidate in the last federal election, was assaulted and suffered significant facial injuries, including eye damage, and may lose sight in her right eye permanently. Police prevented medics from treating her with first aid, and cops replied to the severity of her injuries with, "That's on you".


Other demonstrators were exposed to police abuse, including one who was illegally strip-searched in front of a crowd in freezing weather and without privacy. Five individuals were arrested. The NSW Police's actions have been extensively criticized, with many questioning the legality of their approach. 


Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi critiqued the current government under Premier Chris Minns, claiming it had "repeatedly undermined our civil liberties and vilified pro-Palestine, anti-genocide protesters". NSW Greens Member of Legistlative Council Sue Higginson has called on Minns to explain the police targeting of community people who speak out against genocide.


The event has generated uproar, with many advocating for increased responsibility and protection of peaceful protestors' rights. Greens Senator David Shoebridge stated, "When police are deployed to protect weapons companies instead of protecting the right to peaceful protest, we must ask whose interests they are serving".


Glossary 


  • Accountability: Being responsible for one's actions and decisions.

  • Advocating: Supporting or promoting a particular cause or idea.

  • Assault: A physical attack or violent act towards someone.

  • Battered: Badly damaged or hurt, often physically.

  • Brutal: Cruel or violent, often in a shocking way.

  • Civil liberties: Fundamental rights and freedoms protected by law, such as freedom of speech and assembly.

  • Condemns: Officially disapproves or strongly criticizes something.

  • Cops: Police officers.

  • Excessive: More than what is necessary or reasonable.

  • Expose: To reveal or make known something hidden or secret.

  • Genocide: The intentional killing of a large group of people, often based on their ethnicity, nationality, or religion.

  • Green Party of Australia (Greens): A political party that emphasizes environmentalism and social justice.

  • Legality: The state of being lawful or in accordance with the law.

  • Massacre: A violent and brutal killing of a large number of people.

  • Medics: Medical professionals, such as doctors or nurses, who provide healthcare services.

  • Premier: The head of government for a state or region, responsible for making key decisions and overseeing the administration.

  • Privacy: The right to be free from intrusion or surveillance.

  • Severity: The state of being serious or severe, often referring to the extent of damage or injury.

  • Undermined: Weakened or damaged, often in a subtle or hidden way.

  • Vilified: Strongly criticized or spoken badly about.



Sources



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