Three women arrested for indecent exposure at Tour Down Under protest
Three Extinction Rebellion protesters have been arrested for exposing their breasts and buttocks to call for Santos to be dumped as the TDU sponsor.
SA News
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While Tour Down Under fans were squeezing back into their Lycra on Sunday, protesters aged 58 to 78 chose to bare all, despite warnings from authorities.
Extinction Rebellion protesters exposed breasts and buttocks to call for Santos to be dumped as the TDU sponsor.
Making the point that they liked bicycles – despite their disruption of a cycling event – the women said they were opposed to Santos’ mining of oil and gas.
Protester Mag Merrilees said the group had tried to have Santos dumped without disrupting the event.
“We are baring our ageing breasts and our wobbly bums in the hope of shocking,’’ she said.
“Polite pleas and submissions have not been enough.”
The protest comes after SA Police promised action – including seeking compensation – from any extreme climate activists who disrupt the event.
SAPOL made good on their word. Three women were arrested during the protest for indecent exposure.
SAPOL issued a statement saying: “About 12.30pm Sunday 15 January police were on patrol at the Tour Down Under when they were alerted to a group of people on Main South Road, near River Road allegedly exposing themselves.
“Three women were arrested, a 69-year-old from McLaren Vale, a 70-year-old from Port Willunga and a 74-year-old from Aldinga, and charged with indecent behaviour. They will be bailed to appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court at a later date.”
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has warned police would invoke the law around public assemblies, which included the potential for both criminal and civil action.
“Compensation would be for the resources used in response to an incident,” Mr Stevens said.
“For such resources to be unnecessarily committed to random acts of obstruction to public places deflects emergency service resources away from critical calls for public assistance from those in our community who might be at serious risk of harm.’
Ahead of the event, Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said she was appalled by protesters’ plans to target it.
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