Extinction Rebellion protester arrested over angry clash at Surfers Paradise rally
An Extinction Rebellion protest has been labelled a disaster by organisers after an ugly confrontation marred the otherwise peaceful event.
Crime & Justice
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AN Extinction Rebellion protester has been arrested as angry clashes ignited a climate change rally on the Gold Coast.
“A Day at the Beach” had been promoted as “part protest, part regenerative party” in a gathering organised by the Gold Coast and Hinterland chapter of the controversial lobby group, which last year attracted widespread criticism for a series of disruptive protests in the heart of Brisbane.
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Today’s gathering in Surfers Paradise started in subdued fashion, before a group of about 20 protesters marched through Cavill Mall chanting slogans demanding action on climate change and calling Prime Minister Scott Morrison an arsonist.
However they made it less than 50m before an angry man confronted the group.
In a heated clash, he was allegedly punched by a protester before police swooped.
Both men were arrested and taken to Surfers Paradise police station.
Late today they were both released after being issued fines for public nuisance.
They were also given direction orders to leave Surfers for the rest of the day.
Extinction Rebellion spokeswomen Sally Williams described the incident as a disaster.
“We’re nonviolent protesters,” she said.
“This is a disaster for us.”
She said the group had been antagonised by the other man before the protester lashed out.
A large contingent of police and emergency services personnel were on hand for the protest, which lasted about two hours and included a recording of teen climate warrior Greta Thunberg calling for action while a man dressed in an inflatable dinosaur costume ran up and down the footpath holding a sign warning that “fossils are not the answer”.
In October, more than 100 people were arrested in a week of Extinction Rebellion climate change protests.
Infamous activist Eric Herbert was among those arrested, with a magistrate later sentencing him to six months’ probation after telling him his “brain hasn’t fully developed” for refusing to engage a professional lawyer.
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