A witness films a 25-year-old tradie, Eric, being randomly searched and detained under Queensland’s Jack’s Law at 8:30 pm on Friday, 13 February 2026, near Fortitude Valley railway station. Eric is a strong supporter of Justice for Palestine Magandjin and regularly attends rallies organised by that group. Police openly profile participants in such rallies. Now Queensland police arrested tradie Eric for sympathising with homeless man being arrested. The police officers had followed Eric and his friends after rounding up homeless people earlier.
But for that comment supporting Homeless People
“What you do not see before the video starts is us leaving fortitude valley station, which is on that road, if you know it, we were walking down to the light. As you can see in the video, we’re waiting at the light, and you can see we’re waiting to cross the road. Shortly before filming, these three cops were rounding up homeless people that sit there. And if you know anything about that street, you know that homeless people sit along there all day on the pathway. Eric said, nice job to them as they arrested a homeless man and put him in the paddy wagon that was parked there. And I know that he got arrested because Eric saw him in the same paddy wagon, and they followed us up the road to randomly search him” – Witness.
Eric, wearing work pants and a guitar, had a small Swiss knife used for guitar maintenance; he had worked until 6 pm, changed clothes, and was heading to a 11 pm gig. He was released from the Fortitude Police Beat but banned from the city and Fortitude Valley for a month before his court appearance. The witness alleges targeted harassment because he was wearing a Palestinian keffeyiah, says Jack’s Law is being misused against adults, and condemns the policing as egregious.
The Queensland Parliament has given police unprecedented powers to stop, search, and arrest people. When challenged by his girlfriend police did not provide ‘a reasonable basis’ for their suspicion that he was ‘carrying a weapon’. A multi tool like a Swiss Army knife is not a weapon. At all stages during the arrest, the tradie remained calm. He showed no indication of being violent.
Too much law and not enough justice
The Parliament has given police unprecedented powers to stop, search, and arrest people. When challenged by his girlfriend police did not provide ‘a reasonable basis’ for their suspicion that he was ‘carrying a weapon’.
A multi tool like a Swiss Army knife is not a weapon when there is a reasonable explanation for its use. At all stages during the arrest, the tradie remained calm. He showed no indication of being violent.
Youth Crime Stats
A lot of young people are being targeted by Queensland government and thrown in the watchhouse. This is an attack on Aboriginal kids and youth more generally.
Ian Curr
15 Feb 2026