Premier labels pro-Palestine protesters who rallied at NGV ‘extremists' and ‘antisemitic'
The demonstrators are believed to have targeted the gallery, which was forced into lockdown, because of donations its received from well-known Jewish philanthropists John and Pauline Gandel.
Hundreds of activists marched through the city to the NGV on Sunday afternoon, and one witness reported being yelled at by protesters and accused of supporting Zionism and genocide by entering the gallery.
On Tuesday morning, Allan condemned the protest and said the demonstrators were shameful and 'cloaking their extremism under the conflict of the Middle East'.
Loading
'Victorians are blessed to have the generosity of philanthropic generosity from families like the Gandels,' she said.
'That generosity, that philanthropy enriches us all, and that behaviour we saw where antisemitism came to the street on the National Gallery was just disgraceful.
'It is shameful behaviour and I condemn it because the generosity of the Gandels, it's enriched my family.
'Those people who choose to cloak their extremism under the conflict of the Middle East are shameful and should be condemned.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
21 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Melbourne pro-Palestine protestors threaten to shut down King Street Bridge
Pro-Palestine protesters are threatening to shut down the King Street Bridge in Melbourne today. This will cause chaos and delays for anybody who uses this crucial part of the city. Protestors are planning to meet at midday at the State Library before arriving at the bridge. Extra police have been pulled from four regions across the state to assist in disruptions. All of this comes as the Supreme Court in NSW gave the green light for protestors to stage a very similar protest at the Harbour Bridge.
Sky News AU
21 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Palestine Action protest to go ahead on Sydney's Harbour Bridge
A major pro-Palestine protest march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge is being allowed to go ahead today after being given the green light by the Supreme Court. The bridge will be closed for at least five hours, from 11:30 am on Sunday, with reopening expected at 4 pm. Additional police will be mobilised as up to 50,000 people are expected to join the march. Motorists are being warned of significant disruptions on the roads and public transport.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Sydney prepares for bridge march
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are expected to stream across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday after the Supreme Court rejected a bid to block the anti-war march across the landmark. Conditions are expected to be wet for the rally, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting 10 to 35mm of rain on Sunday, but organisers claim as many as 50,000 people could take part. Protesters will gather at Lang Park in the Sydney CBD at 1pm before marching across the bridge. Beginning at York and Grosvenor streets at 1.30pm, protesters will then file onto the bridge before finishing on the northern side of the bridge at Bradfield Park, according to rally organisers the Palestine Action Group. The march is expected to last three hours. Traffic on the bridge will be closed from 11.30am and is expected to be re-opened by 4pm. Residents and motorists are being urged to avoid the area having been warned of significant disruptions. Bus services will terminate in the CBD on the south side of the bridge and at North Sydney and St Leonards on the northern side. A massive pro-Palestinian protest is due to go ahead on the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday. NewsWire / Damian Shaw. Credit: News Corp Australia Protest organiser Josh Lees. NewsWire/Jeremy Piper. Credit: News Corp Australia Trains will be running across the Harbour Bridge during the march, but delays are expected given the number of people predicted to be streaming into the city. Transport for NSW says that 'extensive' queues are expected at the entrance to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, with a flow-on effect expected for the rest of the traffic network. Motorists are being urged to consider alternative routes and allow plenty of extra time, including going from the northern beaches and north shore to the airport. The Metro service will not in operation between Tallawong and Sydenham on Sunday due to trackwork. Buses will replace Metro services between Tallawong and Chatswood . Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees, who has been the public face of the group's push to hold the historic march across the bridge, hailed a NSW Supreme Court decision on Saturday as a 'huge victory for the Palestine movement in this country' Premier Chris Minns had publicly expressed his opposition to the march. Traffic will be closed on the Harbour Bridge for four and a half hours. Christian Gilles/NewsWire. Credit: News Corp Australia And the NSW Police made an application to the NSW Supreme Court to block the protesters being issued with a Form 1, which affords protesters protection from anti-assembly laws However Justice Belinda Rigg refused the Commissioner's application. 'The fact the proposed assembly is likely to cause significant inconvenience to residents … is far from determinative,' Justice Rigg said in her judgment. 'If matters such as this were to be determinative, no assembly involving inconvenience to others would be permitted.' The Palestinian Action Group said in a social media post: 'Tomorrow we are going to make history! 'We will hold a massive march over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, dedicated to using our people power to stop the genocide in Gaza. 'We are working with police and NSW transport to ensure a safe, family-friendly event for everyone.'
