Protesters arrested during climate change action in Brisbane CBD
Extinction Rebellion protesters have called it a day following 72 arrests in Brisbane’s CBD. It comes as an activist involved in traffic disruptions last month appeared in court.
QLD News
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EXTINCTION Rebellion protesters have wrapped up their protests in Brisbane’s CBD following 72 arrests.
Police said approximately 300 people were involved in the protest that caused commuter chaos, with 34 men and 38 women aged between 18 and 73 arrested.
Before 8.30am, police arrested 15 men and 12 women aged between 19 and 65 for offences including contravene direction, obstruct traffic, obstruct police and breach of peace.
Extinction Rebellion spokesman Connor Brooks has congratulated the congregation of protesters outside Parliament House before they called it a day just after 3pm.
“We’ve had over 50 arrests today. They’re the bravest people … and so are everyone here today for voicing your opinion and protecting the environment,” he said.
At least a dozen Extinction Rebellion members remain camped out behind the Brisbane Watchhouse, waiting for up to 60 of their fellow protesters to be released from police custody.
Most have come from earlier protests which brought chaos to Brisbane’s CBD.
The welcoming party has become a quasi-tradition over the past couple of months for arrested Extinction Rebellion members being released from the Brisbane Watchhouse.
A post by Miles Whiticker on the Extinction Rebellion SEQ Discussion Group on Tuesday night called out for support to welcome the protesters as they are released.
“Incredible day! So much happening, so many people, so much energy and power. Myself and everyone else still in shock and processing. But the day isn’t over for some of us. Please remember the 70 courageous people who got arrested to save the planet, many of are still in the Roma Street watchouse. We have a small dedicated crew doing vigil outside, ready to greet any of our heroes as they are released. If you are interested in helping out with snacks, water, juice, transport, or just emotional support, please they need you! We expect the last of our heroes to be released around 2-3am, so having people available to do coffee runs or the late shift from midnight to 3am would be ace,” the post said.
One protester has been released, having copped $1333 worth of fines and being caught with cannabis.
Paul Hilder, 48, donning a pirate’s hat, was released this afternoon after being arrested on driving a defective vehicle, failure to move vehicle as required, and obstructing a police officer.
Hilder will also face Magistrates Court later this month after allegedly being found in possession of cannabis.
The artist and musician however said the protest was working.
“It is something which is drawing attention,” he said.
“It is something that is getting the attention of the state.”
He said he was driving his vehicle monitoring the situation when police pulled him over.
Another protester, 21-year-old geography teacher Olivia Williams has been released from the watch-house, after earlier storming an intersection at Elizabeth and George St.
Williams was charged with obstructing traffic and will face court later this month.
“For the most part I think (the police) were doing their jobs,” she said about authorities’ response to their actions.
“There was some rough handling”.
“My friend, quite a young girl, had a knee kneeled into her neck for quite a long time, and she was quite upset about that”.
Williams said she was motivated to protest over concerns about the future of her geography students.
“It’s the time where we need to take urgent direct action to force change,” she said.
A fourth protester, Kerry Shaw, has been released but said her husband Peter, who was also arrested earlier today, was not going to accept bail.
Shaw, aged in her 60s and a grandmother, was charged with obstructing traffic and was given a court date later this month (21 Aug.).
Her bail conditions stipulate she cannot come within a certain distance of Brisbane’s CBD.
EARLIER
George Street is currently closed to traffic and the Elizabeth St offramp from the Riverside Expressway is also closed.
About 70 protesters still remain and have now gathered at Queens Gardens. One protester scaled the Queen Victoria statue and led the chants.
“Even if our voice shakes we stand for something. Love is life,” one spokeswoman said.
“We need to realise that this is a climate emergency,” another said.
Activists were forcibly removed from a Brisbane street this morning as their threatened protest kicked off.
Superintendent Christopher Stream said 50 protesters are currently in custody at the Brisbane watch house.
A total of 50 protesters were arrested, 37 at the William St intersection and another 13 at the intersection of George Street and Elizabeth street.
“Members of the Queensland Police Service participated in an operation to facilitate what we hoped to be a peaceful protest in regard to climate action,” he said at a media conference.
While Supt. Stream said there was lawful protest activity on 1 William St, he said there was “unlawful activities” throughout the city.
PROTESTERS’ EXTREME TACTIC IN CBD SHUTDOWN
They blocked Alice, Margaret and William streets as they moved through the CBD, with dozens of angry motorists forced to look on.
The protesters retreated but have returned to block Margaret St and are facing off with police, with more people arrested.
Serial protester Eric Herbert was involved in today’s protest, saying he was demanding more government action on climate change.
Asked how blocking streets was going to get their message across, he said: “We need to actually disrupt society for them to come and see how much of a problem this really is.
“The government and media have failed to forecast the truth and we’re unprepared for the catastrophic impacts to come,” he said.
One motorist said the protest was causing him to miss a job interview. But he sympathised with their cause, saying he respected the point they were trying to make.
“This is an issue that needs addressing,” the man said.
Public Safety Response Team police removed protesters from the road during a sit in on Margaret St. Earlier they had said they were willing to “fight” to prevent climate change.
“This is our darkest hour,” one of the organisers said. “We are facing the sixth mass extinction of our planet,” another said.
Another protester, Ashley, said climate activists were not all “hippies”.
Ashley said she’s a corporate lawyer and she took time out from work this morning because “it’s the right thing to do.”
“Climate change is such a massive issue but no one seems to care,” she said.
At 1 William Street, protesters have prepared for a day of activity, arriving with drums, chairs, rugs, megaphones and a boat.
Police are standing by at 1 William Street as Extinction Rebellion protestors begin to gather. The activists have brought drums, chairs, rugs, megaphones and a boat. @7NewsBrisbane
— Mackenzie Ravn (@mackenzieravn) August 5, 2019
A portaloo was even been dropped off.
Protest action had been flagged from 7am to 9pm today, with police warning commuters to expect delays.
Meanwhile, a protester who blocked traffic last month has been fined by a magistrate this morning.
Daniel Young, 27, pleaded guilty to contravening a direction or requirement and a pedestrian causing a traffic hazard or obstruction in Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning, in relation to Extinction Rebellion protests on July 17.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Josh Kelly said he was arrested after being given a direction to leave the roadway.
“I would submit that a fine would still be appropriate, however for the fine to be immediately paid,” Mr Kelly said, in outlining what police would deem an appropriate penalty.
Young argued for a light penalty as he had “been an asset to the community.”
“I have worked as a carer in the disability sector for eight years,” he said. “I do feel sorry for the disruption I caused that day”.
Magistrate Judith Daley took into consideration Young’s lack of a criminal history.
“There is no need to disrupt traffic,” she said. “We have provisions for places where you can protest”.
Young was fined $400 and had no conviction recorded.
The Courier-Mail understands Young was arrested again today during Extinction Rebellion protests.
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