Max Jensen, Between Voices and Force (DOCO 2026)

On 9 February 2026, thousands gathered near Sydney’s Town Hall to protest the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. What began as a large and vocal demonstration opposing the visit escalated into confrontation as New South Wales Police, operating under expanded public order powers, restricted movement through the CBD. As evening approached, sections of the crowd attempted to march toward Central Station but were stopped by police lines. Officers moved to contain the gathering, separating groups and deploying pepper spray as arrests were made. Protesters of varying ages and ability were caught within police kettles as tensions intensified. Photographing the unfolding events, I moved from observing moments of positive collective expression to documenting instances of potential police brutality against restrained protestors. The importance of a camera cannot be understated.

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