Brisbane ‘Freedom Rally’ against vaccinations, masks and lockdowns
Thousands protested for their freedom in Brisbane on Saturday amid national marches against vaccinations, masks and future lockdowns in Brisbane’s CBD.
QLD Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
VIOLENCE erupted at freedom rallies across the country yesterday, with protesters lashing out at police and mask-wearers in Brisbane.
Thousands gathered in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens for what was to be a “peaceful” protest, but as the crowd grew so did the aggression.
Despite the intense scenes only one Queensland man, aged 55, was charged after allegedly seriously assaulting police, who attempted to arrest him for flying a drone in a restricted area.
He was charged with several offences, which also included obstructing police, and was granted police bail, to front court early next month.
Protesters shouted, kicked and threw unknown liquid at police officers, who desperately tried to tame the crowd.
Children climbed trees to escape the as fights broke out between demonstrators and police.
Further south mammoth crowds charged at police in Sydney, while angry mobs gathered by their thousands in Melbourne, despite police warnings not to and public transport being shutdown.
In Victoria six police officers were hospitalised, some with broken bones, and at least $1 million in fines was dished out.
In NSW 32 protesters were arrested, with 20 of those in Sydney and 265 fines were issued. Several cars, including one police vehicle, were damaged by the Victorian crowd, who lit flares and lobbed bottles at officers.
The Brisbane crowd – which included young children and babies – protested the wearing of face masks, vaccines, and any future Queensland lockdowns.
They chanted “my body my choice” and “wake up Australia,” while one woman screamed at masked spectators: “take off your masks, your masks are killing you.”
At one point, one man played The Last Post on a bugle, as another protester could be heard saying “we’re at war.”
One protester thanked a police officer for “not reacting or touching anyone,” while another maskless man ran towards a police officer sitting stationary on a QPS motorbike and fist pumped him, before screaming “freedom” towards the crowd.
As the thousands marched through the city, including down the bustling Queen Street Mall, onlookers filmed and rebutted the group.
One woman told The Sunday Mail she was disgusted to see the crowd behave how they did.
“They’re idiots,” she said.
“I work in a hospital. We cannot support this sort of behaviour because if it gets into our communities like it is elsewhere, we will be overwhelmed … they’re saying ‘freedom’, but we should have the freedom to be protected from Covid, and they’re not giving us that freedom.”
Dozens of police, including specialist, heavily armed officers from the Queensland Police Tactical Group, were also in attendance.
Join the conversation
Bleijie confirms LNP will ‘consider’ ditching $3.2m in Covid fines
The government will consider waiving $3.2m worth of outstanding Covid fines, Acting Premier Jarrod Bleijie has revealed.
Read more
Australian-first dual vaccine to win over the hesitant, compromised
A combined Covid-19 and influenza vaccine is being trialled in Queensland in the hope it will protect people who otherwise cannot have, or are hesitant about, another type.
Read more