Terrifying footage captured the moment a pro-Palestine activist was threatened with broken glass after disrupting a singer’s concert.
Australian artist Deborah Conway’s concert at Hobart’s Playhouse Theater on Saturday night was interrupted at least three times by pro-Palestinian protesters.
The Jewish singer-songwriter previously made comments in support of Israel’s military action in Gaza, which sparked protests calling for the cancellation of her shows.
Her performance was first interrupted by a man who unfurled the Palestinian flag and shouted at the singer asking if she condemned Israel’s actions towards innocent civilians and children, before being escorted out of the theater by security.
Footage captured by one protester captured the dramatic moment when another activist was threatened by an audience member with the broken stem of a wine glass.
Jewish singer-songwriter Deborah Conway’s performance interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters
The protester stood near the stage and interrupted the concert by asking Conway if she condemned Israel’s actions.
An audience member confronted the protester by violently breaking a wine glass on stage and holding the broken stem close to her face.
The protester backed up toward the wall, but was followed by the customer as another audience member attempted to stop her.
“You’re hurting me,” the protester shouted as security escorted her out of the theater.
Patrons were also heard booing protesters every time they interrupted the concert.
On each occasion when the concert was interrupted, Conway left the stage and the theater lights were turned on until the protesters were removed.
One protester was violently confronted by a customer who broke a wine glass on stage and held the broken stem close to her face (pictured).
Before the concert, protesters petitioned the theater to cancel Conway’s performance, and about 20 gathered outside the doors and handed out leaflets to attendees.
The leaflets included comments Conway made in an interview with ABC Radio National presenter Patricia Karvelas late last year.
Karvelas asked the singer about Israel’s military action in Gaza and the disproportionate impact it was having on innocent civilians and children.
“Well, it depends what you call kids,” Conway replied.
“But you see young men (boys of 16 or 17 years old) carrying rifles and, unfortunately, Hamas recruits young men who are not yet men.
“There are many young people dying, but I think the responsibility for that falls squarely on Hamas.”
Since her comments, 500 writers and arts workers have written an open letter to Perth Festival opposing its decision to include Conway in its programme.
Hobart’s pro-Palestinian protest group on Monday condemned the boss’s violent actions and vowed to continue its protests.
“We are committed to demonstrating our continued solidarity with Palestinians and all those facing colonial violence,” the group’s statement read.
“Ours is a strength based on courage and conviction, not complacency or shards of glass.”
In a statement Monday, Conway and her husband and collaborator, Willy Zygier, praised the bosses for their bravery in confronting protesters, but said the violence was “pointless.”
‘We applaud their bravery for their attempts to protest against the protesters. Except with the caveat that following the path of violence is futile, to say the least,” the statement reads.
Conway and her husband and collaborator, Willy Zygier, praised the patron for her bravery in confronting the protester, but also said the violence was “pointless” (pictured, Conway on stage at the Playhouse Theater show in Hobart).
The pair added that protesters “picked a few words from a long interview” and twisted them before thanking police, security and staff for their response.
“We also say that people should not be harassed in the workplace for their opinions,” the statement read.
“We wouldn’t suggest that pro-Palestinians be bothered in their daily affairs, it just brings a terrible rancor to the discussion, which is already quite rancorous.”
The couple said they sympathized with the public, who “got a lot more in the evening’s entertainment than they expected (and paid for).”
Tasmania Police were not called to the scene but were made aware of a disturbance during the show involving two patrons, but no formal complaint was made.