Terrifying footage captured the moment a pro-Palestinian activist was threatened with a broken glass after interrupting a singer’s concert.
Australian artist Deborah Conway’s concert at the Playhouse Theater in Hobart was interrupted at least three times by pro-Palestinian protesters on Saturday evening.
The Jewish singer-songwriter has previously made comments in support of Israel’s military action in Gaza, which led to protests calling for the cancellation of her shows.
Her performance was first interrupted by a man unfurling the Palestinian flag and shouting at the singer, asking if she condemned Israel’s actions against innocent civilians and children, before being escorted out of the theater by security.
Footage captured by a protester captured the dramatic moment another activist was threatened by an onlooker with the broken stem of a wine glass.
Jewish singer-songwriter Deborah Conway’s performance was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters
The female protester stood up near the stage and interrupted the concert by asking Conway if she condemned Israel’s actions.
A female audience member confronted the protester by violently smashing a wine glass on stage and holding the broken stem to her face.
The protester walked backwards towards the wall, but was followed by the patron when another audience member tried to stop her.
“You’re fucking hurting me,” the protester shouted as security escorted her from the theater.
Patrons were also heard harassing the protesters every time they interrupted the concert.
On all occasions when the concert was interrupted, Conway left the stage and the theater lights were turned on until the demonstrators were removed.
A female protester was violently confronted by a female patron who smashed a wine glass on stage and held the broken stem to her face (pictured)
Before the concert, protesters asked the theater to cancel Conway’s performance, with about twenty people gathering outside the doors and handing flyers to attendees.
The flyers contain comments Conway made in an interview with ABC Radio National host Patricia Karvelas late last year.
Karvelas asked the singer about Israel’s military action in Gaza and the disproportionate impact it had on innocent civilians and children.
“Well, it depends what you call kids,” Conway replied.
“But you see young people – 16-, 17-year-old boys – carrying guns, and unfortunately Hamas is recruiting boys who are not yet men.
“A lot of young people are dying, but I believe the responsibility for that lies squarely with Hamas.”
Since her comments, 500 writers and artists have written an open letter to the Perth Festival opposing their decision to include Conway in the programme.
The Hobart-based pro-Palestinian protest group on Monday condemned the patron’s violent actions and vowed to continue the protests.
“We are committed to demonstrating our continued solidarity with Palestinians and all those who experience colonial violence,” the group’s statement said.
“Our strength is based on courage and conviction, not on complacency or shards of glass.”
In a statement on Monday, Conway and her husband and collaborator, Willy Zygier, praised the patron for their courage in standing up to the protesters, but said the violence was “not helpful.”
“We applaud their courage for their efforts to protest against the demonstrators. Except with the caveat that pursuing the path of violence is futile, to say the least,” the statement said.
Conway and her husband and collaborator, Willy Zygier, praised the patron for her courage in standing up to the protester, but also said the violence was “not helpful” (pictured, Conway on stage at the Playhouse Theater show in Hobart)
The pair added that the protesters had “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 their workplace because of their opinions,” the statement read.
“We do not mean to suggest that pro-Palestinians are harassed in their daily activities; it only introduces terrible resentment into the discussion, which is already vindictive enough.”
The pair said they sympathized with the audience, who “got far more from their evening’s entertainment than they bargained for (and paid for).”
Tasmania Police were not called to the venue but were aware of a disturbance at the show involving two patrons, but no formal complaint was made.