Kangaroo Point refugee protest to close Story Bridge this Saturday
“Don’t do it,” is the advice from Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for thousands of protesters planning to shut down Brisbane’s Story Bridge this weekend.
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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says asylum seeker protesters planning to shut down Brisbane’s Story Bridge on Saturday should stay home.
“The advice in relation to mass gatherings hasn’t changed. Don’t do it,” she said.
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“We are in a global pandemic and people are dying.
“If you want to protest, stay home, stay socially distanced and use social media to make your point known.
“Now is not the time for mass gatherings.”
About 3000 people have expressed interest in the event on Facebook.
The planners, Refugee Action Collective Queensland and Refugee Solidarity Brisbane/Meanjin, have been threatening the shutdown for weeks if their demands aren’t met.
The organisers demand the refugees and asylum seekers who are detained at Kangaroo Point Central Hotel and Apartments in Brisbane be released into the community.
Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander said: “Asking protesters nicely not to gather doesn’t cut it.”
He called for the Government to explore legal options to ensure the protests didn’t take place.
“It’s the height of hypocrisy to close the border and urge people to social distance while allowing a mass protest to go ahead at the same time,” Mr Mander said.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to show some leadership and intervene to keep the rest of Queensland safe.”
He said the Premier should “come down like a tonne of bricks on them”.
“A second wave of coronavirus in Queensland can’t be risked,” he said.
“Queenslanders must be kept safe to protect lives and livelihoods.”
The Story Bridge protest will cause massive delays through the City, with the event planned to run from 12pm-3pm.
Protests have been held weekly at Kangaroo Point, with a heavy police presence usually in attendance.
Arrests have been made during these protests with Greens Councillor Jonathan Sri, who was charged with contravening a police order.
On the event’s Facebook page, planners say they had tried “petitions, letters and marches – they don’t work”.
“It’s time to engage in mass civil disobedience. Civil disobedience is an effective means of changing laws — this means deliberately disobeying laws to highlight and prevent further injustice,” they said.
“Our friends are locked in. No space to socially distance. No way to exercise. They can’t go outside. Never smelled eucalyptus. Seen the cliffs. Watched Maiwar glisten.
“This is punitive detention and it has to end.”
The protest is a mass sit-in, which will include a game of soccer on the middle of the bridge.
“We asked some of our friends inside what they’d like to do if they had free movement from the prison, and one idea (among many others) kept coming back: a friendly soccer game,” organisers said on Facebook.
“So when we sit this Saturday, it’ll be to watch a soccer game in the middle of the road.
“Kids play soccer in the middle of the road all the time.”
The organisers say if the demands are not met by midday on Friday the protest will go ahead.
Police say they will block anyone who attempts to enter the Story Bridge and arrest those who don’t follow orders.
In a statement to The Courier-Mail, police said they were aware of the planned protest and had not authorised any notices of intention for the protest to proceed.
“People should not attend protests that are not authorised, and also not attend to ensure they can comply with the Chief Health Officer’s directions in relation to COVID-19,” a police spokesperson said.
“Any attempts to enter on to the Story Bridge will be blocked by police and protesters given directions to desist. Any protesters disobeying these directions will be arrested and where necessary issued COVID-19 PINs.”
Police encouraged protesters to protest from home via social media but if you do attend to follow social distancing rules.
“Stay home if you feel unwell,” the police spokesperson said.
“People should not attend protests that are not authorised, and also not attend to ensure they can comply with the Chief Health Officer’s directions in relation to COVID-19.”
