Controversial Millions Rise For Australia deleted by Facebook amid planned protests
One of Australia’s biggest online conspiracy theory groups promoting dangerous advice such as the coronavirus pandemic being one big fraud and planning future protests has been shutdown.
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A controversial online group promoting conspiracy theories including the coronavirus pandemic being one big fraud and planned protests has been shutdown.
The Millions Rise For Australia, which had more than 116,000 members, was deleted on Wednesday by Facebook.
The group rejected coronavirus restrictions, saying they were “unlawful” and shared other posts making outrageous claims about vaccinations and 5G.
It’s understood the page was deleted after heavily promoting the national Freedom Day protest on Saturday, September 5, which is set to take place in various locations across Australia.
The Leader can reveal several new groups were created on Facebook and other social media platforms on Monday night, with one of them already having almost 8000 members.
One Facebook user, promoting another group for others to join, wrote: “Millions Rise for Australia FB group (around 100K of members) as well as a replacement group they tried to set up last night have both been removed.”
‘Facebook seem to be doing their utmost to silence people before September 5 and the protests this weekend. Without large groups it is difficult for people attending to be organised,” she said.
The Leader on Monday revealed dozens of protests were being planned across Melbourne to march against anti-lockdown laws.
It comes after protests continued over the weekend in Dandenong, with dozens of police turning out in force to deter them.
Footage is circulating online of protests taking place in other municipalities including Casey, where a group of teens have been filmed marching through a school without wearing masks.
In the footage, which was uploaded to Instagram, the teens are seen running away from police.
Other footage on Facebook shows police doorknocking the home of a woman who was also believed to be influencing protests in parks across Melbourne.
It comes after she organised a “5pm community walk” event across Australia, which has since been cancelled.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police were continuing to investigate Sunday evening’s protest in Dandenong and would consider issuing penalty notices for anyone found to be in breach of the directions issued by the Chief Health Officer.
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