Climate activists rally for public march in Brisbane's CBD on Friday

For the second time this week Brisbane’s CBD will be paralysed as climate protesters take it to the streets during afternoon peak hour.

Tom Howell after his release from the watchhouse this week.

PEAK-hour traffic could be a nightmare on Friday as climate change activists march through Brisbane City to South Bank.

Uni Students for Climate Justice spokesman and QUT student unionist Carl Jackson said supporters would meet in Brisbane Square at 5pm on Friday before marching across the Victoria Brisbane to the ABC headquarters at South Bank.

The rally comes after hundreds of climate change activists flooded into the city on Tuesday morning as part of Extinction Rebellion SEQ’s Rebellion Day, resulting in more than 70 arrests.

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“We’re marching to (South Bank) because many of the people who got arrested on Rebellion Day signed bail conditions that have got restrictions saying they can’t enter the CBD zone for three weeks. We want them to be part of our protest but we don’t want them breaching bail, so we’re going to march there to see all our friends,” Mr Jackson said.

“We’re outraged at the response of the state to Rebellion Day.

“If they really want to talk about us inconveniencing people and money being lost, what about when the seas are rising and there’s million of climate refugees?”

Mr Jackson also promised “direct action” when the group arrived at South Bank.

“That’ll be a fun spectacle. It’ll be on the theme of education because it’s a uni student rally. It’s a radical teach-in.”

Tom Howell was arrested during Tuesday’s protests when activists blocked the corner of Margaret and William Streets in Brisbane. (AAP Image/Darren England).

Meanwhile Extinction Rebellion protester Tom Howell - who spent a night in the Brisbane watchhouse and was fined $800 for his part in Rebellion Day - said he’d do it all again.

“Out of the people who were charged, we don’t know anyone that says they won’t do it again. If anything, they’ve been inspired to do more,” he said.

“It’s inciting, exciting and inspiring more people.”

Mr Howell during his arrest on Tuesday. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

After being arrested four times in four months, Mr Howell said it had all been for climate activism.

“It’s not like I’m a career criminal. It’s all been protests,” he said.

Due to the large number of arrests that occurred early on Rebellion Day, Mr Howell said there were actions planned by the group that weren’t able to be executed.

“There were things, but the police put in a massive amount of resources. I can’t say exactly what they were but on October 7, where we’re going to do it over a series of days, you’ll see a lot more of those big flashy actions,” he said.

Mr Howell during his arrest in Brisbane's CBD. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

“The safest way for police to manage that environment is to allow people to stay and (for them to) divert traffic, and that’s what they’ve done previously and when we went swarming. It’s not good for them to drag 70-odd protesters off the road but they’re being forced from higher places to act like that.”

Despite his night in watchhouse, Mr Howell said he was among friends and spirits were high throughout the night.

“It was a long night but there were so many of us in there, we were singing songs and playing charades,” he said.

He said around 30 activists refused to sign bail documents so spent the night in custody to face court the next day.

Mr Howell before he was taken to the Brisbane watchhouse on Tuesday. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

“We had 38 women arrested and 34 men,” he said.

“The women in the cell next door were singing a lot of Midnight Oil. It was lots of fun. It was a party atmosphere almost Just lots of cheering and love.”

Extinction Rebellion SEQ’s spokeswoman Laura Lucardie wasn’t arrested on Tuesday, and described the day as “empowering and beautiful.”

“It showed how we have the capacity to mobilise the masses towards civil disobedience so that we can see climate justice,” she said.

Extinction Rebellion SEQ's Laura Lucardie.

“Outside the watchhouse, we were singing and dancing, and there were big hip hip hoorays and hugs when people came out. It’s been really beautiful.”

Ms Lucardie said Extinction Rebellion had experienced an astounding level of growth since April.

“If history is any evidence of how this movement will grow and shift, we expect those arrests to increase especially in October when we have the next event. I don’t think it’s deterred anyone. It’s empowered people to be around others who are rejecting this top down power structure and making sure that when the government fails us, we stand up for what we believe is right and we get the climate justice that is so critical for us to survive,” she said.

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“If you look back to the earlier actions, all of the participants could fit in one photo and now that’s certainly not the case.”

Ms Lucardie said activists would regenerate and recuperate before moving forward “in a powerful way.”

“People can certainly expect non-violent direction action before October.”

Extinction Rebellion SEQ will hold an introduction to the organisation at Brisbane Square Library on Saturday at 10.30am.