Top cop warns pro-Palestinian protesters ahead of Sydney rally

A top police officer has warned unruly pro-Palestinian protesters that they risk arrest for bad behavior.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley issued the warning on Sunday ahead of planned protests in Sydney.

“If everyone does the right thing, there won’t be any problem,” she said.

“But if you don’t, you can expect to be arrested. It’s that simple. There will be no tolerance for misconduct. There will be no tolerance for racist comments, no tolerance whatsoever from the New South Wales Police.

“We don’t want the war in the Middle East to play out on our streets in Sydney. That anger doesn’t belong here.’

Ms Catley did not criticize the protesters, but said people “have the right to peacefully assemble in the city”.

“If they do the right thing, they don’t have to worry,” she said.

But both Ms Catley and NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb warned police would not tolerate any action that was not in line with the peaceful protest promised by organisers, the Palestine Action Group.

A top police officer has warned unruly pro-Palestinian protesters they risk arrest for bad behavior (pictured, NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley with NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb)

Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna, who oversees the police operation, said if people do something ‘wrong’, police will intervene (photo of pro-Palestinian supporters in Perth on Saturday)

Ms Webb also promised that police officers will be “proportionate” when responding to Sunday’s pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney, but added: “we will respond if necessary.”

Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna said that if “people do the right thing, we will facilitate that authorized march.”

“But if people do the wrong thing, if they commit criminal offences, or exhibit anti-social behavior, or do something that endangers people’s safety, we will intervene,” he said.

‘For us it’s about public safety. We are apolitical. We do not get involved in discussions about whether it is right or wrong for these types of protests to take place. That is not the job of the NSW Police.”

It comes as NSW Premier Chris Minns promises to stop a repeat of last year’s infamous Opera House demonstrations.

Mr Minns said on Sunday that last year’s protests, in which some participants clashed with police and chanted anti-Semitic slogans, were “a mistake” for which he had to “take responsibility”.

“I apologized at the time,” he told Sky News.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said last year’s protest at the Syndey Opera House was a ‘mistake’ and wants to avoid public displays of ‘hate and racism’

“We cannot allow this to happen again, and that is one of the reasons why the police were so vigilant about the planned protest activities this Sunday and Monday.”

Following an 11am Supreme Court hearing between police and protest organisers, Palestine Action Group withdrew its application to protest on Monday 7 October, saying it would instead hold a vigil at Sydney Town Hall that evening and on a meeting in Hyde Park on Sunday. , October 6.

Mr Minns said the police action to block protests around the anniversary, which he staunchly supported, was “not intended to restrict freedom of expression” but to avoid public displays of “hatred and racism”.

“We cannot create a situation where hundreds of people hijack a march, end up at the Opera House and end up in a violent confrontation with police,” he said.

‘Those images splashed across the front pages of newspapers around the world and gave Sydney and Australia a terrible reputation at the time. I am determined to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“Part of that is making sure that we’re vigilant about these protests. NSW Police are ready.”