The Australian DJ who disrupted an Anzac Day dawn service in 2017 has called for others to protest this year after he was sentenced in court.
As The Daily Telegraph reports, Joe Mekhael (aka Smokin Joe Mekhael) was found guilty of resisting arrest and committing a nuisance on a war memorial site following an appearance at Sydney's Downing Centre Local on Tuesday.
Speaking outside the court, the 33-year-old, who once held the Guinness record for performing the longest-ever DJ set, refused to apologise and called for others to follow his actions.
"I call on everyone man, woman and child in Australia and New Zealand to go to your local Anzac Day dawn service to make your voice heard," Mekhael said.
"I will fight against this evil system until the [sic] day I die."
During the court hearing, a video of last year's dawn service in Martin Place was screened, showing Mekhael mockingly waving his arms and shouting while a bugle could be heard playing.
Magistrate Carolyn Huntsman handed Mekhael a 12 month good behaviour bond for resisting arrest and a $700 fine on the public nuisance at war memorial site charge.
"I consider those words the courageous will never be silent as long as these wars continued in that context is to offend," Huntsman said in court.
"It is offensive because it is behaviour likely to wound the feelings and aroused anger and resentment and outrage in the mind of a reasonable person."
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