The Queensland Police Service (QPS) says it will take pro-Palestinian protest organisers to court in an effort stop a march over Brisbane’s Story Bridge this Sunday.<\/p>\n
Justice for Palestine Magan-djin lodged an official notice of their plans for the demonstration on August 7, which police said raised “public safety concerns” and could pose “significant disruptions to the the rights and freedoms” of others.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“The QPS respects the right to peacefully assemble; however, this must be balanced with the need to ensure public safety and minimise disruption to the broader community,” they said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Both organisers and police had expressed a willingness to find a middle ground, but were unable to reach a resolution through mediation on Monday.<\/p>\n
A QPS spokesperson said the service would now lodge documents in the Brisbane Magistrates Court in an attempt to stop the march from proceeding over the Story Bridge.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Remah Naji says organisers are committed to making the march go ahead.\u00a0 (ABC News: Lucy Loram)<\/p>\n
Organiser Remah Naj said the protest was “authorised under the Peaceful Assembly Act and also protected under the Human Rights Act”.<\/p>\n
“We are still marching across the Story Bridge on the 24th of August,” Ms Naji said.<\/p>\n
“The onus is now on the police to take us to court if they want to stop us from exercising our fundamental right.”<\/p>\n