EXCLUSIVE: Victoria Racing Club faces criticism for allowing glamorous businesswoman to wear ‘Free Palestine’ dress at the Birdcage – as organizers defend controversial stunt
The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has been criticized for allowing a racegoer to wear a dress covered in politically charged slogans relating to the Israel-Gaza conflict at Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival.
Angelica Mesisca Barrientos, a glamorous business owner from Adelaide, raised eyebrows at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday by wearing a black dress emblazoned with the words ‘Free Palestine’, ‘Where Is The Humanity?’ and ‘Ceasefire’.
The slogans refer to Israel‘s retaliation against Palestine after the Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7.
PRC entry rules prevent racegoers from carrying slogans they deem ‘discriminatory’, ‘offensive’ or ‘offensive’ towards others on the course.
When asked for comment by Ny Breaking Australia, a PRC spokesperson said the organization decided Ms Barrientos had not broken the rules.
The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has been criticized for allowing racegoer Mesisca Barrientos (pictured) to wear a dress covered in politically charged slogans relating to the Israel-Gaza conflict during Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival
‘We have rules banning clothing with messages intended to disrupt the event, and none of these rules were broken by customers on Derby Day.’
Dr. Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Australia’s main civil rights organization fighting anti-Semitism, has since criticized the PRC for allowing Ms Barrientos to promote her message at the Birdcage.
“Allowing this kind of divisive rhetoric on Derby Day… sends the wrong message,” Dr Abramovich told Ny Breaking Australia on Monday.
When asked for comment by Ny Breaking Australia, a PRC spokesperson said the organization decided Ms Barrientos had not broken the rules.
Dr. Abramovich, whose family in Kibbutz Reim hid in a safe room on October 7 while Hamas terrorists stalked and murdered their neighbors, said on behalf of the PRC that there is “no excuse for inaction.”
“The PRC must show moral leadership on this issue and use its powers to prevent this type of activity, because history will judge them on how they responded.”
Ms Barrientos previously spoke to Ny Breaking Australia about her controversial dress during a visit to the Birdcage on Saturday, explaining: ‘This dress is definitely a talking point but I’ve had nothing but positive feedback.
Dr. Dvir Abramovich, (pictured) chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Australia’s main civil rights organization combating anti-Semitism, has since criticized the PRC for allowing Ms Barrientos to promote her message at the Birdcage.
Ms. Barrientos said Israel’s retaliation against Palestine after last month’s terror attacks by the extremist group Hamas caused innocent people to suffer collateral damage.
“It is absolutely unacceptable, inhumane and it needs to be talked about,” she said.
“It hurts me every time I open my social media accounts and see bombs falling on innocent children, it is literally a genocide.”
Ms Barrientos’ dress was created by South Australian designer Cadell Canutto.
“I was nervous preparing to wear it because I didn’t know how people would react, but I wanted something super graphic that said ‘Free Palestine’ and got the message across.”
She added that the crowd at the event had been supportive despite the politically charged message.
‘My biggest fear was that someone would spit on me, but that didn’t happen. What’s the point of fashion if it’s not a statement?’
Israel launched its attack on Gaza on October 7 in retaliation for Hamas-led attacks on Israeli homes, farms and villages that killed an estimated 1,400 people, Israeli officials said.
An Israeli tank is seen driving through Gaza on Tuesday during Israel’s ground invasion
More than three weeks of massive and sustained Israeli aerial bombardments have been followed by a large-scale ground offensive in Gaza.
On Tuesday, Israel said it had killed “dozens” of Hamas terrorists in “fierce” fighting “deep” in Gaza, with video showing soldiers scouring the streets for the gunmen amid fierce battles.
Israeli forces attacked Hamas positions within the terrorists’ vast tunnel network in an attempt to free hostages held there – a key objective for Israel because it is expanding ground operations in Gaza to root out Hamas.
Israel’s brutal bombing campaign has killed 8,306 people since October 7, including 3,457 children, according to the Hamas-led Health Ministry in Gaza.