A former Greens candidate, who was left with a serious eye injury after being arrested by police at a pro-Palestine rally has unleashed at NSW Premier Chris Minns.
Hannah Thomas has undergone surgery following the injury suffered during the protest in Sydney’s south-west, outside Lakemba business, SEC Plating, which the Greens have accused of supplying materials used by the Israeli military.
Ms Thomas, who challenged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the seat of Grayndler at the last election, is at risk of losing vision in her right eye, following the clash with police.
She has since issued with a court attendance notice by police and charged with hinder/resist police and refuse/fail to comply with direction to disperse. She is expected to appear in Bankstown Local Court on August 12.
‘I just wanted to say thanks so much for the overwhelming support I’ve received… I’ve been lucky to be looked after so well by the staff at the hospital,’ she said from her hospital bed on Sunday.
‘I don’t want to go into too much detail about the traumatic events on Friday, but, I’m 5’1’ and I weigh 45kg. I was engaged in a peaceful protest and the actions of NSW Police have left me potentially without vision in my right eye permanently.
‘This is because of Chris Minns and (police minister) Yasmin Catley and their draconian anti-protest laws.
‘The anti-protest laws aren’t just a threat to people protesting for Palestine, but for any person who wants a safer world for all of us.’
Former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas, who sustained horrific injuries to her eye during an arrest at a pro-Palestine protest on Friday, has been charged by police
Police issued a move-on direction to the group of around 50 protestors at about 5.35am on Friday to disrupt the alleged unauthorised protest.
The NSW Greens claimed Lakemba business was involved in the supply chain to make Israeli fighter jets.
Ms Thomas allegedly refused to comply with the order and sustained facial injuries when she was arrested before being taken to Bankstown Hospital for treatment.
A photo of Ms Thomas on Saturday showed the severity of her injuries, with her entire right eye closed, swollen and bloody, while she sat in the back of an ambulance.
The right side of her face was also covered in blood while her eye was black.
NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson wrote to NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and Police Minister Yasmin Catley to complain about the actions of the officers at the rally.
‘I am writing to you to express my deep concern that no critical incident has been declared following the (alleged) assault by NSW Police against a community member at a public assembly in Belmore,’ Ms Higginson wrote.
‘As you know, a critical incident is an incident involving a NSW police officer that results in the death or serious injury of a person.
The former Greens candidate who is at risk of losing vision in her right eye after suffering facial injuries at an anti-Israel rally has undergone surgery
NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson wrote to NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb to complain about the actions of police
‘Having witnessed the grievous injuries (allegedly) caused by the police to Hannah Thomas, spoken to on ground witnesses who witnessed what occurred and with the knowledge that Hannah has experienced serious injuries and hospitalisation, I am calling for a critical incident to be declared urgently.’
Four others were arrested and charged during the protest, including a 24-year-old man who was allegedly found in possession of a stolen police body-worn camera.
Police said the camera was stolen by an unknown protester during a scuffle and was tracked to the 24-year-old’s location.
It is not clear exactly what caused Ms Thomas’ injuries but doctors are reportedly fearing she may not regain sight in her right eye.
The Greens meanwhile have said they have spoken with lawyers to potentially represent Ms Thomas and the other protesters who were arrested during the incident.
Ms Thomas has attended anti-Israel protests in the past, having called on Australia to impose sanctions on Israel, whose government she accused of genocide.
She was among dozens of demonstrators who descended on Albanese’s electorate office to demand action after Greta Thunberg’s ‘Freedom Flotilla’ was seized by Israeli defence forces earlier this month.
A spokesperson for NSW Police previously told Daily Mail Australia: ‘[Ms Thomas] sustained facial injuries while being arrested for allegedly failing to comply with a police direction and the arrest was discontinued and (she) was taken to Bankstown hospital for treatment.’
