Youth For Palestine Makati calls for the immediate release of Edison Yu who has been arrested during a demonstration protest in front of the Israeli Embassy this morning of June 8. The protest was held in commemoration of the eight months of Israel genocidal wars in Palestine and the 54th anniversary of the occupation of Gaza.
According to the group, the police personnel attacked and apprehended the Yu for simply taking photos of the road blockage and police presence in the area
Paralegals from Karapatan National Capital Region have cited some of the charges that may be filed against Yu including alarm and scandal, unjust vexation, physical assault, and oral disobedience.
The rights group said it has been the usual charges file against arrested activists during pursuits in peaceful demonstations, similar to the case of Mayo Uno 6.
“Youth for Palestine – Makati vehemently condemns this act of police violence against people simply practicing their freedom of expression. This act of brutality by the BGC-Taguig City Police shows not just their ignorance to the tragedies in Gaza, but also their complicity to US-Israel’s occupation and genocide of the land of Palestine,” said the group in a statement.
According to the group, this is not an isolated case that they experienced in the hands of Taguig City Police
On May 15, in commemoration of the 76th anniversary of Al Nakba, protesters have also endured physical attacks and violent dispersal among Taguig City Police.
In the international scene, there have also been reports of pro-Palestine protests and school encampments that were disrupted by state authorities. In the United States, large scale protests among universities led to over 2,000 students arrested for their participation in solidarity and anti-war protests.
“This (police brutality) terrifyingly mirrors the attitude of the Israeli occupation; having no respect to legalities and human rights amidst their genocide,” it added in the group’s statement.
The group called on the Taguig City mayor Lani Cayetano and President Bongbong Marcos to heed their plea for the release of Yu and take actions to the police violence they endured under the BGC Taguig City Police.
“Despite being named after the anti-imperialist revolutionary Andres Bonifacio, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) remains a stronghold for foreign and genocidal US-Israeli interests. We must not allow the violent suppression of nationalistic and anti-colonial spurs of oppressed people; let alone the blatant disrespect of our humanitarian freedoms and liberties. Let us stand against these acts of violence against the people who choose to bravely denounce the genocide faced by the Palestinians in Gaza!,” the group stressed.
