Brisbane City Councillor Jonathan Sri angry he ‘has to organise protests’

As protesters blocked peak hour CBD traffic, a controversial councillor has expressed his anger that he has to organise such events, and says people who are mad at protestors should direct their anger towards the federal government.

About 100 protestors have staged a sit-in on a major Brisbane CBD street as the event’s organiser says he’s angry he has to lead such action.

The small group gathered outside the Queensland Parliament House to protest refugee detainment in offshore detention camps and then marched through the city and staged the sit-in outside the Department of Home Affairs, chanting “no hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here” while blocking traffic.

Protesters arrested after gluing themselves to road

Woolloongabba Councillor Jonathan Sri said this demonstration was to highlight the plight of refugees at the hands of the Australian Government.

Protesters in Adelaide Street outside the Department of Home Affairs. Picture: Shiloh Payne

“We know that the federal Liberal party is using immigrants, in particularly asylum seekers, as a scapegoat for their failed economic management,” he said.

He said he was angry that he had to organise protests, and that people who were mad at protestors should direct their anger towards the federal government.

Brisbane Councillor for The Gabba ward Jonathan Sri speaks during a rally before a protest march through central Brisbane to oppose the expansion/reopening of the Christmas Island detention centre and to call for all refugees and asylum seekers to be released into the community. (NCA NewWire/Dan Peled)

“I don’t think that I should have to get up this early to come outside Parliament House to protest, I’ve got Council soon I have things to do this morning.”

Refugee solidarity spokeswoman Dame De Leon said she was willing to be arrested for the cause.

“Hundreds of us have already said weeks and weeks ago that we are willing to be arrested for our friends inside,” she said.

“Sitting in traffic is nothing compared to what the (refugees) have gone through.”

A handful of protesters gather outside Parliament House. Picture: Shiloh Payne

The protest action is in response to the federal government’s reopening of the Christmas Island detention centre, and is the second in under a week, following Saturday’s actions at Kangaroo Point where six people, including two people who glued themselves to a road, were charged by police.

Cr Sri, who organised the protest, said the core message of the demonstration was that no one should be sent to Christmas Island.

“There’s no reason to hold anyone in this offshore facility,” he wrote on the Peaceful March Against Sending Refugees to Christmas Island Facebook event.

“We want the government to close the Christmas Island detention centre and free everyone who is being held unjustly.”