Drew Westbrook

Triathlete / Urban Economist / Global Traveller / Cafe Connoisseur / Proud Taswegian / Brisbane Resident

[Kate MacDonald @katetmac]

I’ve been going to the rallies in Hyde Park/Town Hall since October 2023. Always peaceful. Today at #Bondi I was abused by people wrapped in Israeli flags and yelling at me to go back to where I came from. Clovelly where I was born 🤷🏻‍♀️ 🇵🇸🇵🇸 🇵🇸🇵🇸

[Novara Media @novaramedia]

Legendary British street artist Banksy has unveiled a new work on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

The mural features a figure holding a blank placard being beaten by a judge wielding a gavel, and comes directly after the Metropolitan Police arrested over 850 people for breaking terror laws on 6 September at a protest against the proscription of non-violent direct action Palestine Action.

Approximately 1,500 people took part in the demonstration, organised by Defend Our Juries (DOJ), in London’s Parliament Square - making it one of the biggest acts of mass civil disobedience in British history. Those arrested included former and current NHS staff, an 83-year-old priest and a disabled RAF veteran.

A DOJ spokesperson said: “Banksy's work of art on the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice powerfully depicts the brutality unleashed by Yvette Cooper on protestors by proscribing Palestine Action.

“When the law is used as a tool to crush civil liberties, it does not extinguish dissent – it strengthens it. As Banksy's artwork shows, the state can try to strip away our civil liberties, but we are too many in number and our resolve to stand against injustice cannot be beaten – our movement against the ban is unstoppable and growing every day.

“We hope everyone who is moved by Banksy’s inspiring work of art will join our next action, which will be announced soon.”

Since the controversial proscription came into force in July, more than 1,600 people have been arrested under terror legislation and over 70 have been charged.

Banksy’s artwork can be viewed on an external wall of the Queen's Building, part of the Royal Courts of Justice complex.

[Irlandarra @aldamu_jo]

A Zionist attacks two Unicef fundraisers raising money for Gaza in Italy while saying:

“I’ll fu**ing kill you, say Palestine one more time!”

[Mike Carlton @MikeCarlton01]

Ugly, racist bullying from the Australian Jewish Association.
https://t.co/AmfmxB4P2a

[Neena Jha @DrNeenaJha]

After arresting a retired doctor, a Met Police officer is caught saying “we’re going to go for someone younger”….

The Met Police are a DISGRACE!

[Peter Murphy @PeterWMurphy1]

Cartoonist @cathywilcox1 deserves a bouquet of flowers, a pack of Tim Tams, a nice cuppa (and anything else she wants) for this outstanding accurate painfully true commentary. #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #auspol

[Drew Westbrook @DrewWestbrook]

Do better @Qantas and at least get your apology letters correct even if still insincere and with no compensation unlike in Europe

[Kylie Minogue @kylieminogue]

Brazil I am SO ready for you 🇧🇷💛

[Drew Westbrook @DrewWestbrook]

@AirCanada Sounds like management is a shitshow as we say in Australia! Don’t blame your employees.

[Tricia Dearborn @TriciaDearborn]

*UPDATE*
Apparently more than 50 speakers and presenters have now withdrawn from the original 93-person line-up.
Still calling this "a small number", Bendigo Writers Festival?

[Greg Barns SC @BarnsGreg]

This is brilliant. Serves @latrobe right. Universities in Australia are gutless when it comes to #Israel I have witnessed their blocking freedom of information requests and draconian penalties imposed on students for standing with #Palestine
https://t.co/3a91CsDbQj

[Omar Sakr @omarsakrpoet]

Bendigo Writers Festival sent out a Code of Conduct form speakers must abide by which includes the bogus IHRA definition of antisemitism… the day before the festival starts. Hard to imagine a bigger, more absurd own goal. Several authors and festival staff have now left.

[Drew Westbrook @DrewWestbrook]

@BBCBreaking Where’s the interview with the smart guy calling out complicity?

[Hamza Yusuf @Hamza_a96]

A student opening their results live on the BBC: “On that note, I want to say Free Palestine, end the genocide and the BBC is complicit…”

The BBC reporter quickly interjected and said “we’re here to talk about A-Level results… Gaza is a whole different subject…”

[Drew Westbrook @DrewWestbrook]

@Erin_Molan Free Palestine 🇵🇸

[Mike Carlton @MikeCarlton01]

This is the Israeli ambassador in Canberra, Amir Maimon. He is an agent of genocide. Throw him out.

[Dazza @Dazzaat]

Murdoch's upset about something.

[Frank Bongiorno @fbongiornoanu]

We're very proud at the ANU of Liz Allen's courage, collegiality and intelligence. ANU academic accuses Julie Bishop of bullying and threats during Senate inquiry into university governance https://t.co/RgWywBGcxx

[Matt Kennard @kennardmatt]

UK government never wanted you to see this

They spent 20 months concealing flight path of RAF spy missions over Gaza for Israel

But they recently contracted it out to a US company - and new pilot soon forgot to turn off his transponder

This is evidence for a war crimes trial