Anti-vax protesters gather in Melbourne
Anti-vaccination protesters have been arrested in Melbourne after a rally against the COVID jab turned violent.
Victoria
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Protesters clashed with police amid ugly scenes on Saturday leading to multiple arrests at an anti-vaccination rally in South Yarra.
Protesters and police confronted each other, with officers using pepper spray as they fought to bring the demonstration under control.
More than 500 people attended a march to campaign against the nationwide coronavirus vaccine rollout, which begins on Monday.
Victoria Police said 20 people were arrested in total and of those 15 will receive penalty notices for breaching CHO directions.
Five have been charged on summons for resisting arrest, hindering police and refusing to provide details.
Protesters gathered from 12pm at Fawkner Park before causing traffic chaos as they marched on busy roads in the area.
The event drew a heavy police presence with officers from the Public Order Response Team, the mounted brigade and highway patrol assisting regular duties officers.
When the crowd descended on St Kilda Road, some police had bottles of water thrown at them and protesters were pepper sprayed.
The crowd also yelled abuse at reporters and targeted TV crews with cries of “report the real news” yelled at reporters.
Chants of “freedom, freedom, freedom” rang out during the march, along with shouts of “we will not comply”.
One organiser using a megaphone encouraged protesters to yell: “f*ck Dan Andrews.”
Many attendees waved signs and donned colourful costumes.
Most did not wear face masks and social distancing was not always possible.
One man’s Australian flag was taken off him as he refused to dismantle a pole it was fixed to.
The Melbourne event was one of 11 across Australia to protest against “mandatory” vaccination.
The federal government has said the vaccine program will not be mandatory but it’s likely some workplaces considered “high risk” may insist on employees getting the shot.
Speaking elsewhere in Melbourne on Saturday, Labor MP Bill Shorten had one message for people at the protest.
“Please, think about everyone else,” he said.
“I would just say to the anti-vaxxers, you’re actually making it hard for the whole country.”
Saturday’s rally has authorities on high alert for the commencement of Monday’s vaccine rollout in Melbourne.
The majority of the crowd dispersed by 3pm.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said “fervent anti-vaxxers” were in the minority and should be ignored.
He said others had concerns about the way in which the COVID-19 vaccines had been fast tracked.
But he reassured Victorians that after more than 150 million vaccines had been distributed worldwide, there was evidence they were safe.
“The reality is, it’s gone through a really rigorous quality and safety review process,” he said.
“All of those individuals who have received the vaccine are monitored, and if there are signals that indicate that there is an issue with safety, we would have seen that so far,” he said.
Professor Sutton said Australian authorities would continue to review and monitor safety and quality data.
“There will be an ongoing process of monitoring these vaccines,” he said.
“We’ve got a long track record in Australia of monitoring vaccine safety and efficacy. And the reality is, it is genuinely our way out of this.
“I’m going to be getting it. I’m going to absolutely be recommending it to my family, my friends, anyone who’s eligible, and it will be really important that we can roll it out, widely.”
Opposition spokesman David Southwick slammed the protesters as irresponsible, saying the risked the safety of the wider community.
“All the way through this pandemic it just has not been the time to protest,” he said.
“I would say to protesters, you might have a view, that’s your right, but protesting puts everybody at risk,” he said.
Mr Southwick said the majority of Victorians wanted and needed the vaccine.
“If you don’t like it, don’t take it,” he said.
“This vaccine is not compulsory. Those people who don’t agree with the vaccine don’t have to take it, quite frankly.”
One of the speakers at Saturday’s event was Independent MP Catherine Cummings who took to the stage telling the crowd she was “pro vaccine” but “pro-medical choice”.
When she asked the crowd to socially distance into groups of 20 she was met with boos before a chant of “freedom, freedom, freedom” erupted from onlookers.
Another speaker said the pandemic was the “most abhorrent war in the history of mankind”.
“They are trying to keep us safe from a non-existent pandemic,” a speaker called Jacqui told the crowd.
She falsely claimed there was no medical, scientific or physical evidence to support the pandemic.
It is understood the government has no plans to introduce measures to ensure the safe rollout of the vaccine despite Sunday’s protests.
Victoria Police did not respond to requests for comment on any potential safety measures.
Originally published as Anti-vax protesters gather in Melbourne
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