Josh McConnon, a local who was walking past the racecourse rally, said police tackled him to the ground head-first after he attempted to help up a protester.
At least four people were arrested following a pro-Palestine rally that blocked a main road leading to Flemington Racecourse before the running of the Melbourne Cup.
After police arrived, the protesters were split into two groups on either side of the intersection, barricaded by a line of officers. Josh McConnon, who was walking past the protest, said he was tackled to the ground by police after he tried to help a protester up from the ground.The statement said that a female protester who had climbed onto the roof of a different van was also arrested after she “failed to obey police instructions to come down”.
He said he was charged with assaulting a police officer and released. Victoria Police was contacted for comment.
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