Greens Councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan arrested for allegedly trespassing at Brisbane expo

A controversial Greens councillor has hit out at police after he was handcuffed and arrested at a defence industry expo.

Brisbane City council member Jonathan Sriranganathan was taking part in  what he says was a ‘peaceful’ protest at the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition in the Queensland capital on Tuesday. 

The councillor had called the show, held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, a ‘killing machines expo’.

He called out the ‘Queensland police state’ for his arrest. 

Supporters took to social media (pictured) defending the councillor, showing a photo of him in a rainbow beanie and red pants, standing next to a police officer

The councillor said he was arrested while standing on a public pathway, but police allege he trespassed into a restricted area past a security barrier (pictured, Cr Sriranganathan)

The councillor said he was arrested while standing on a public pathway, but police alleged he trespassed into a restricted area, past a security barrier.  

He had also been allegedly attempting to prevent people from going into the venue.

‘The 34-year-old man was asked to leave on multiple occasions and allegedly refused to comply,’ police said.

‘He was subsequently taken into custody in relation to trespassing.

‘During his arrest, it is alleged he resisted police.’

But Cr Sriranganathan took to social media saying he had been at a ‘peaceful assembly’ when arrested and was not trespassing. 

‘Queensland is still a police state,’ he said. 

I just got arrested for ‘trespass’ for participating in a peaceful assembly against the Land Forces military weapons expo, while standing outside the convention centre on a publicly accessible footpath.’ 

He said a convention centre employee told him he was trespassing, while he was out on the footpath. 

Cr Sriranganathan (pictured, at an anti-monarchy protest last month) said a convention centre employee told him he was trespassing, while he was out on the footpath, who called on police to ‘take action’ against him

Police alleged he had been attempting to bar people from attending the event (pictured, the controversial councillor in 2019)

Cr Sriranganathan (pictured at at BLM protest in Brisbane in 2020) was charged with one count of trespass and obstruct police and was granted bail to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on October 19

‘I asked to see evidence that the footpath I was on wasn’t public/government land but he wasn’t interested in respectful conversation – he just ordered me to move,’ Cr Sriranganathan said. 

‘He then asked police officers to take action, and they arrested me for trespassing.’

Cr Sriranganathan was charged with one count of trespass and obstruct police and was granted bail to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on October 19.

He said it was ‘annoying’ the strict bail conditions did not allow him to protest further at the Land forces expo.

Supporters took to social media defending the councillor, showing a photo of him in a rainbow beanie and red pants, standing next to a police officer.

Ben Pennings said the Cr Sriraganathan was arrested for ‘doing his job’ and said the arrest charge was ‘stupid/fake’.

The councillor was a part of an anti-monarchy protest last month and has been an active voice for Climate Change and Black Lives Matter. 

He said it was ‘annoying’ the strict bail conditions did not allow him to protest further at the Land forces expo (pictured, the councillor at a climate action march in Brisbane last year)