Chapel Street protest which urged locals to ‘clap and show their support’ for traders condemned
A protest planned for Sunday which urged stores along Chapel Street to open their doors in defiance of restrictions has been slammed by the local precinct association.
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The Chapel Street Precinct Association has condemned a rumoured protest for Sunday which suggested stores should open their doors in defiance of extended stage 4 restrictions.
The live Instagram feed from freelance photographer Matt Lawson, which has more than 17,000 followers, raised the idea of people coming together to show their support for local businesses forced to close and traders opening their doors to “clap and show their support”.
But Chapel Street Precinct Association general manager Chrissie Maus said as much as they would love to see stores reopen, this is not the way to do it.
“It’s not going to get the doors open faster. They want to get the doors open to business quicker, which is what we want too, but there is a much better way to go about it,” she said.
“They were trying to get all the traders to open up and be defiant of the rules on Sunday. We’re doing all we can to snuff it out.”
In a Facebook post the association, which represents 2200 traders, stated the proposed protest could have unintended consequences of polarising the community and businesses could not afford to lose the loyal support of the local community.
“A mass protest right now could in fact extend the lockdown period further which we simply cannot afford.”
“The Chapel Street Precinct Association wants to make it abundantly clear that we are NOT calling on our traders to open their doors this Sunday. Most importantly we do NOT support the protest rumours that are currently out there planned for Chapel Street this Sunday!”
“Whilst we are not happy with the extension of the lockdowns and the devastating impact that our Government’s decision is having on our businesses and livelihoods, we absolutely do not support our businesses breaking any laws.”
Mr Lawson told the Herald Sun he had initially suggested a “Hope Rally” to walk along Chapel St between High St and Toorak Rd, but has since discouraged his followers from participating.
“I’m getting the word out to everyone that it’s not going to happen,” he said.
Ms Maus says many businesses on the shopping strip were surviving on a false economy, propped up by Jobkeeper and extended insolvency laws.
“When we have both of these lifelines holding up the economy it’s hard to see what the true picture is, but it will show in all it’s hideous glory early next year,” she said.
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