A photographer who provides images for pro-Palestinian groups has lost part of his ear and perforated an eardrum after being shot by police with a rubber bullet during a violent protest against a Melbourne military expo.
The 33-year-old photographer, who provides images for Free Palestine Melbourne and Free Palestine Coalition Naarm, was wounded at about 10am on Wednesday and says he is waiting to find out whether he will suffer permanent hearing loss.
Eggs might be just annoing to be hit with but I’d rather be tear gassed than taking a stone/glass bottle/heavy cans to my head. A stone with a decent speed and weight can kill you. And I don’t think I have to elaborate what broken glass flying around can do to your skin/eyes etc.
They have shields, visors, and helmets mate. They’re not under trebuchet fire, it’s gonna be a handful of people throwing small objects. Chemical weapons are indiscriminate torture devices.
Cops are organised, trained and in radio contact. They can do stuff like retreat and encircle.
edit: also have you ever been teargassed? Cause I have lightly once and holy shit I would rather stand in a line with shields and armour and have a few rocks pelted near me. It’s extremely painful.