Anti-lockdown protesters face six months’ jail
Two anti-lockdown protesters face months in jail after allegedly injuring police officers at a rally in which 14 were arrested in Melbourne’s CBD. Watch protest video here.
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Two anti-lockdown protesters face six months’ jail after allegedly assaulting and injuring police amid wild scenes in Melbourne’s CBD.
In a separate incident, a 62-year-old Wheelers Hill woman also faces mandatory prison after allegedly attempting to bite a police officer in the aftermath.
The maskless woman was handcuffed and arrested outside Flinders Street station and charged with assaulting an emergency worker, resisting police and breaching the chief health officer’s directives.
She screamed during the dramatic arrest before bursting into tears when escorted into the back of a divvy van. “I did not assault police,” she said.
In all, 14 protesters were arrested for offences including assaulting police, affray and breaching the chief health officer’s directions, while 55 were issued penalty notices.
The protest at Flagstaff Gardens drew a huge police presence with officers outnumbering the 150 protesters and forming a ring of steel around the gardens.
Those who wanted to enter were asked for identification to verify their addresses and prove they were within their 5km bubble.
A maskless woman named Michelle, who was handcuffed and fined, said she was protesting for her freedom. She called members of the media “stupid” for wearing face masks.
Protester Harrison Mclean, from Bayswater, copped a $1652 fine.
“The state of Victoria being put into yet another lockdown is a disgrace,” he said.
Some protesters moved on to Victoria St, North Melbourne, where they antagonised police. Capsicum spray was used to quell them after two officers were injured.
Another group of defiant Melburnians have vowed to gather at the Revival Christian Church in Narre Warren on Sunday.
Anti-vaxxers were on Friday put on notice and warned any attempts to defy public health stay-at-home orders would be cracked down on.
Hundreds of protesters planned to gather in the Flagstaff Gardens from noon as part of a “Millions march against mandatory Covid vaccinations” rally organised by a group dubbed the “Health Rights Alliance”.
This is despite organisers bowing out late on Friday afternoon, citing threats of incitement charges from police.
Those attending include members of the “Melbourne Freedom Rally” — the anti-lockdown group who were last year dubbed the “tin foil hat brigade” by Victoria Police’s Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius.
“We will be in attendance to support this event and will not be complying with any CHO directives,” a Melbourne Freedom Rally member said.
Victoria Police urged people to obey the current CHO directives.
“We are confident the overwhelming majority of Victorians will be doing the right thing and adhere to restrictions so we can all return to normality as soon as possible,” the force said in a statement.
“Those who choose to blatantly disregard the CHOs directions can expect to be held accountable and fined.”
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission added: “Any protest activity should comply with the public health directions in place at any given time.”
On Thursday night dozens of anti-lockdown protesters gathered outside Flinders Street station, causing chaos for peak hour traffic and commuters ahead of the statewide seven day lockdown.
Under stage three restrictions, attending a public protest is not permitted and can attract a $1652 fine.
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