Protesters cop lockdown fines while calling for release of refugees from Bell Mantra Preston
Asylum seeker advocates are refusing to leave a Preston hotel — with some chaining themselves to the building’s roof — until 65 asylum seekers held there are released immediately.
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Protesters have barricaded themselves in hotel rooms in Melbourne’s north, in what they say is an act of solidarity with refugees detained at the hotel.
The activists are demanding the 65 asylum seekers held at the Manta Hotel in Preston be released immediately into the community.
Some of the group have this morning chained themselves onto the roof of the hotel.
The group of protesters paid for a night’s accommodation at the Bell St accommodation and are committed to staying until they get what they want.
“They are not intending to leave willingly,” Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance spokeswoman Sam Castro said.
“They cannot be removed. They are intending to stay until we get a guarantee these people will be resettled into the community. It’s freaking awful.
“It’s an absolute risk to public health.”
A large banner, which can be seen from Bell St, reads: “Seven years lockdown. Freedom now.”
Farhad Bandesh, who was transferred from Manus Island, said Australia was “cruel” to refugees.
“This is so cruel, what the Australian government does to refugees,” he said.
“These refugees and asylum seekers are mentally sick and physically sick.
“We came only looking for safety and freedom, this is not a crime.”
In April, a convoy of 30 protesters were fined by police outside the hotel for disobeying social distancing directives.
Three protesters were fined five times on Saturday after ”exercising” near the hotel while carrying signs calling for the release of refugees.
Protester Mark Conroy said he and his partner were riding their bikes along Bell St and had stopped to talk to each other when police officers swooped in and fined them.
“I was really shocked,” Mr Conroy said.
“They wouldn’t listen to any kind of reason. We weren’t putting anyone in any danger whatsoever.”
The pair were carrying signs that read: “Let them stay” and “Asylum is not a crime”.
Mr Conroy said there were up to five police cars patrolling the hotel.
The pair rode their bikes around the corner into Hotham St to go home and found their friend, who was running with a sign on her back, being fined.
“She was shaking in her boots. She was terrified,” Mr Conroy said.
The pair asked to stay with their friend to make sure she was okay but were told by officers they would be receiving a second infringement in the mail for not moving on.
Mr Conroy said he felt shock and rage at the officer’s “violating” behaviour.
“We were completely nonviolent, completely socially distanced,” Mr Conroy said.
“There are so many things they could be doing – it’s purely for political purpose.”
Refugee Action Collective spokeswoman Lucy Honan said the display was unacceptable after police allowed more than 100 protesters to assemble in front of Parliament House on Sunday.
“The police allowed an unsafe, right wing protest to take place in Trafalgar and have now allowed over 100 to crowd in on the steps of parliament,” she said.
“This is total hypocrisy and shows the Victoria Police are politically biased.”
Police arrested 10 people at Sunday’s protest, mostly for failing to comply with directions from Victoria’s chief health officer, but did not fine anyone on the spot.
Protesters were allowed to speak for more than 30 minutes before Victoria Police attempted to arrest anyone.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Alanna Jarry said they respected the public’s right to protest, but the health and safety of Victorians was their number one priority.
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The Refugee Action Collective is organising another protest for May 16, and expect around 400 protesters to simultaneously exercise in front of the Bell Mantra hotel.
Police fined 29 protesters $47,908 on Good Friday for protesting in the form of a car cavalcade.
The group is calling for the release of refugees trapped in the hotel who were brought to Australia for medical treatment.