Secret anti-lockdown protests being planned weekly across Melbourne suburbs
Mass anti-lockdown protests are being planned every weekend across multiple suburbs in Melbourne in a bid to fight restrictions, with angry protesters vowing to release the location an hour before the marches to avoid police intervention.
Outer East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Outer East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Anti-lockdown protests are being planned every weekend across multiple suburbs in Melbourne, with thousands expected to march in a bid to fight restrictions.
The Leader can reveal “Freedom Day” posters have been circulating across several Facebook groups, which say: “Freedom Day each Saturday, every township, town and city Australia wide until covid restrictions end.”
Sources have told Leader protest organisers plan to send out the secret locations an hour before the marches to avoid police intervention.
“Freedom Day” posters promoting a protest on Sunday, September 13, are also circulating social media and messaging apps saying: “Only a video with exact corresponding background as this poster will announce the official location”.
It can also be revealed former reality TV contestant Fanos Panayides, who was arrested after allegedly promoting the “Freedom Day” event last weekend, has created a secret Facebook event called “We Walk As One”, planned for Sunday, September 13.
The event description says: “The time has come that as a collective we stand in solidarity. The smiley face is symbolic of happiness, freedom and now symbolic of Australians taking a stand.”
Mr Panayides was bailed to face Melbourne Magistrates Court in February next year along with a Coburg man, 28, who was also charged with incitement.
It comes after police arrested 17 people who took part in anti-lockdown protests at the Shrine of Remembrance and Albert Park Lake last Saturday.
Other posters circulating Facebook also say: “500,000 the time has come Australia wide, Australia-wide 13/09/2020.”
Last month, anti-lockdown protesters took to the streets of Dandenong as frustrations grew over the stage 4 restrictions.
Police clashed with protesters in the middle of road, holding up pepper spray canisters and ordering large groups to move on.
Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton said police will be out and issuing infringement notices to anyone who turns up to protests on the weekend.
“If people do turn up and aren’t compliant they will firstly be issued infringement notices and if they don’t move on they will be arrested,” he said.
“Clearly we need to stop the spread of the virus and mass gatherings don’t do that.”
Mr Patton, speaking on ABC radio, defended heavy-handed tactics by police.
“Hopefully no one turns up,” he said.
“But if people do turn up and they aren’t compliant and don’t move on then we will give them an infringement.
“If they do turn up, and if they then don’t move on, they would be arrested.”
When asked about why a different approach was being taken to the Black Lives Matter rally earlier in the year, Mr Patton said: “I think I’ve contextualised and given reasons for that approach given that I don’t think anyone wanted to see Melbourne burn or be damaged because of all the feeling that was in society at that time.”
When asked about the curfew and whether it was at police’s request, Mr Patton said he believed the curfew was at the request of Brett Sutton, despite the chief health officer claiming otherwise.
In a statement issued to the Leader Victoria Police said this weekend, like every other day until permitted under the Chief Health Officer’s directions, they will be monitoring potential protest activity.
“Victoria Police maintains a strong capacity to respond at any point in time. Once again over this weekend we will have resources committed to ensuring that people who deliberately breach the directions receive fines or are arrested, if necessary,” the statement said.
“Last weekend, we arrested many people and issued over 160 fines to those who chose to protest. We will have no hesitation in taking the same action again.
“Anyone thinking of attending a protest can expect the same swift and firm response from police as has occurred at previous protests that were in breach of Chief Health Officer restrictions.”
MORE NEWS:
ACCUSED BROTHEL WORKERS ‘HIDING IN CLOSETS’ DURING POLICE RAID
THE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS BEHIND ‘FREEDOM MARCH’